Book-end Prayer

Book end prayer is what I like to call prayer that remembers to thank God for His answer. In years past and sometimes even now, I have to admit that I forget to say “thank you” to God. How rude of me!

Lately, I’ve been thinking about this because I’ve had so much to be thankful for. As I pray and intentionally seek God’s activity in my life, it’s as if I can see Him who is unseen.

I’ve been praying for snow this winter. I love snow, but in the South it’s a rarity. This year we haven’t had large amounts of snow fall, but we have had snow! Just this morning, it was snowing. Once my husband and kids were gone for the day, I sat wrapped in a warm blanket and sipped my coffee as I watched the snow fall. There’s something about watching the snow floating from the sky to the ground that is soothing and peaceful. As I mediated on God’s beautiful creation, I was compelled to thank Him for snow and the wonderful morning it provided for me.

I needed serenity today. I’m on the last lap of finishing my book. The days have been long and stressful at times, but God has guided me all the way. As I’ve sought Him daily and poured my request before Him, His presence has been felt, His hand has been sure, His strength has enabled, and His provision has been amazing!

God always provides for our needs. Long before God called me into ministry, He was preparing me. I became a student of His Word under the leadership of Kay Arthur. For over 15 years of studying Precept, God said it was time and separated my life for His service. Now that I’m writing, it seemed only natural to ask Kay Arthur, my mentor and teacher, to endorse my book. When I mentioned it others in the publishing arena, they felt that most big names would have a no endorsement policy. I heeded to their advice and forgot the whole thing. However, God kept orchestrating my circumstances placing me in front of Kay and allowing me the honor of sharing how God used her ministry to prepare me for mine. So, I decided to ask.

Long story short, she endorsed my book! A few days later, I received an email from Jan Silvious of Woman of Faith. Another speaker/author I greatly admire and whom I asked for an endorsement. She, too, gave me one. I was overwhelmed. These may be big names in the industry, but my God is bigger! …And I didn’t forget to bookend the experience by thanking God for His loving care.

God’s answers don’t always come the way we expect or with celebration on our lips. I’ve also been praying for my son, Mitch. He owns and condo and lost his job recently. Not a good thing when you have a house note. Apparently, he lacks the ability to hold his tongue when others are jumping down his throat. He attacked back and lost his job. I asked him, “Don’t you know that the best way to keep someone from jumping down your throat is to keep YOUR MOUTH SHUT?!” A lesson he is no doubt learning.

At first, it didn’t make sense that he lost his job even through it wasn’t a good job. I couldn’t help but think, “Hummm…how is this answer to my prayer?” As he came to his dad and me for advice and direction in his life, it was then that I realized God had answered my prayer and was at work in Mitch’s life. Direction was what I had been praying for but when you child is old enough to live on his own; you have to wait for them to come to you. Well, here he is allowing his dad and I to speak into him words or wisdom.

Even when God’s answers seem strange at first, we need to rejoice and be thankful anyway. His ways are higher than ours and we must believe that He always has our best interest at heart whether it appears so or not.

What can you be thankful for today…your job, your health, your children, your home, the food on your table? Take a moment and bookend your prayer by thanking God for His loving provision in your life today.