Growing up in a Pentecostal church was an experience that has stayed with me.  If you have never been to a “camp meeting” then you are missing something!  Back in the old days there were big tents and little old ladies with their hand fans or better yet a fan fashioned from an old church bulletin.  The revival service would drag on long into the night with prayer, singing, preaching, more singing, more preaching and as a child it was a bit like torture!  By half way through most of the kids were running around outside the church play hide and seek while the preacher’s voice bellowed into the night.  Regardless of whether we were “listening” or not… those camp meeting nights are still etched into my heart.  Very often I will remember my grandmother humming one of those beautiful old songs … “Why don’t you ….. have a little talk with Jesus, you can tell Him all about your troubles.  He will hear my faintest cry… answer by and by… And when you feel a little prayer wheel turning, then you know a little fire is burning.  Just a little talk with Jesus makes its right.”  Sometimes when you would complain or cry about life to Nana she would say burst into this song and that was her way of saying…  sounds like you need to pray!

Sometimes when I have a bad day and I end up in tears over one thing or another I will hear this playing through my head.  Almost like her voice still echos to me even though she has long since passed.  But she was SO right.  There are so many things in life that I think could be solved with a little less GRIPING and a little more praying!  True?

I recently started reading a new book called “I Told the Mountain to Move” by Patricia Raybon.  It’s all about praying effectively.  I believe this is a book that I purchased shortly after “that horrible time” a few years ago but I had not made the time to read it.  Now as I delve into the book it has really made me think.  We sit in church on Sunday and the pastor will “Lets all bow our heads and pray… Dearest Heavenly Father, etc etc etc…”  So formal and proper.  We all do it.  Hands folded, heads bowed.  We even teach our children this is how we pray.  But really the HEART of prayer doesn’t come from a church pew or from a bowed head.

I can remember the first time Troy had dinner with my family.  I was mad at my mother about something and of course, she asked ME to say the blessing over dinner.  I still think it was spiteful but nonetheless I did it.  Out came my “prayer”.  “God, mom wants me to say the blessing over this food, and here goes… bless the food… thanks”.  And that was it.  Troy has laughed at me for YEARS now over that.  He said it was like I was dialing up my best friend to have a chat on the phone.  But really, is that so far from the truth?  For me, even though that prayer WAS a bit half-hearted, I have MANY prayers today that are almost similar to that day.  They are CONVERSATIONS with God.  I tend to think of God as my Heavenly Father so most of my prayers start with me calling Him by that name.  I rarely find that I use flowery language.  Some of my best prayer times come from when I am driving so eyes shut are hardly an option. There will be a beautiful song come on the radio that will move me and inspire me to be thankful or convicted and I will let loose.  I sometimes find that my prayers are a little like a therapy session where I unload the days troubles.  But really, if you truly think about it… and that old camp meeting song… “He will hear our FAINTEST cry… answer by and by.”  I honestly believe that God loves to hear from us… straight from our hearts and if our hearts are burdened THAT is when we should CAST our cares on Him.  Have we forgotten that HE is bigger than all of our cares, troubles, struggles, burdens, hurts, happiness, joy, good days and bad days?  I have not forgotten that.

I also think that some of the most effective prayers I have ever prayed have come from a desperate time.  Desperate times call for desperate measures I guess.  Back when the “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelets were popular there was another acronym.  P.U.S.H.  Oh boy!  Is that the acronym for me?!!!  If I am good at anything in life it is PUSHING until I get something done!!!  P.U.S.H. stands for “Pray Until Something Happens”  How true how true.  Maybe that is why some of the most effective prayers come from desperation!  Finally, at that point, you are able to PRAY without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)  Pray always.  Pray on your face with tears of sincerity.  You pray and you cry out and boom… a miracle.  And so many are shocked.  Elated but shocked.  But WHY?  Should we not pray EXPECTING that miracle to happen?  What happened to faith as a grain of a mustard seed? (Matthew 17:20)  If there is one thing I can say about myself is that even when doubt creeps ins… I still EXPECT that my Heavenly Father will rescue me from ANY situation.  I BELIEVE strongly that anything that happens is NOT outside his plan and that ALL THINGS work for the GOOD of those who serve Him.

I think that the KEY to having prayer that WORKS.  Prayer that MOVES mountains… is CLAIMING those promises.  You must TAKE that Bible that lies on your bedside table and USE it.  It is a TOOL to lead and guide us through life.  Anytime you have a decision to make… get in the word.  Anytime you are at a crossroads… get in the word.  Anytime you hurt… get in the word.  There is an answer for EVERYTHING in your life… in the word!  There is also instruction on HOW TO PRAY… in the word.  Prayer is mentioned 511 in the King James Bible… Did you know that God has given us 511 instructions on how to pray yet many of us flounder through our daily prayers with nothing more than “Dear God…”

I truly believe that prayer should be a conversation with God.  Sometimes, just like a parent, I think that God needs a little reminding.  I take every opportunity to remind Him that HE has promised us GREAT things.  That HE has moved mountains.  That HE has parted the sea and that I EXPECT Him to do the same for me and He has done for Moses, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, David, and many more who have come before me.  Throughout the day, when things go wrong instead of complaining (which I do enough of!  I will admit it… I am not scared!) I try to look at the situation and CLAIM the promise.

Take for example this past week.  We had some major upset with Kyleigh’s medical bills…. Bills from 4 years ago to boot.  I dug in my heels and said to God (as I was on hold with the 5th person) “I do not accept this debt!  You gave my daughter life MORE ABUNDANTLY.  You have HEALED, RESCUED and RESTORED her body and now I expect that the work which you have started in our finances will also be the same.  I BELIEVE that You are able!”  Not more than 1 hour later… I received a call from KMSF saying that they were writing off all of the bills due to “incorrect” filing.  Is it true that they were trying to Balance Bill me? Yes.  Was I NOT responsible for that in any way because of Kyleigh’s three insurances?  YES.  BUT….  that could have turned into a bigger struggle than just a few hours worth of phone calls.  It could have gone to a lawyer, to court, to many more levels.  BUT… it didn’t.  It was FINISHED.

So…I challenge you today… when something comes your way that is not positive that you would look that opposition STRAIGHT in the FACE and CLAIM the promise that your Heavenly Father has given you to protect and keep you!!!  Start practicing this and see how quickly all of your cares melt away!!!

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