A Praying Life

Source: amazon.com via Jen on Pinterest

I read this book 2 years ago, but it's one I want to read again. I hope this quote refreshes your heart and renews your desire to pray with faith. Blessings, Jen

"When we don't receive what we pray for or desire, it doesn't mean that God isn't acting on our behalf. Rather, he's weaving his story. Paul tells us to "continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2). Thanksgiving helps us to be grace-centered, seeing all of life as a gift. It looks at how God's blessings impact our lives. Watchfulness alerts us to the unfolding drama in the present. It looks for God's present working as it unfolds into future grace." ~ A Praying LIfe: Connecting with God in a Distracting World, Paul E. Miller

Quotes of the Day!

"Contentment is the equilibrium between the enjoyment of life now and the anticipation of what is to come. Contentment serves as a guard against desires gone wild. It is the key to unlock you from the bondage of unrestrained longing that wells up within your heart and inevitably begins to control your life, making you a slave to what you don't have instead of a fully engaged participation with what you do. It is the faith-filled belief that what God has bestowed now is worthy of gratitude and appreciation, not merely because it is enough but because it is good." Priscilla Shirer (Thank you, Jamesy, for sharing this!)

Priscilla Shirer wrote the book, The Resolution for Women, which Jamesy recommended to me & it looks fabulous!

Source: amazon.com via Jen on Pinterest

This next quote is as inspiring as the friend (Melissa) who shared it with me today:

"My times are in Thy hand." Psalm 31:15

Let this precious truth divest your mind of all needless, anxious care for the present or the future. Exercising simple faith in God, be careful for nothing. Learn to be content with your present lot, with God's dealings with you, and HIs disposal of you. You are just where His providence has, in its inscrutable but all-wise and righteous decision, placed you. It may be a position painful, irksome, trying, but it is right. Oh yes! It is right.
Only aim to glorify Him in it. Wherever you are placed, God has a work for you to do, a purpose through you to be accomplished, in which He blends your happiness with his glory."

January 26, Octavious Winslow (Morning Thoughts)

Quote From My Latest Kindle Book

Here's a quote from one of the books I'm currently reading on my Kindle (The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage by Stormie Omartian):

"You always grow to love the person you pray for."

Reality Check

My friend, Melissa, posted this as her status & I had to share it with you girls. Love it!

“In those moments when you are caught, you can rest. Don’t give way to panic. Don’t give into doubt because this is not what you would have planned...You are waiting because there is a plan. You are waiting because your life is under the control of One who is wise and good. You can rest, not because you know what is happening, but because you know the One who is in control of what is happening right now. ” Paul Tripp

Melissa also wrote this post:
He does all things well
I had lunch with a friend today. She is really struggling with not being married. As she looks out, there are just not any guys that are pursuing. Or any guys that she'd even be thrilled about if they did pursue. And she struggles with feeling like it's because something is wrong with her, she isn't pretty enough, and the list goes on. As I was listening to her, my heart ached. For I too know the pain of this unfulfilled longing. How I desire to partner with someone in life and ministry! To live life together, have a family, serve our Savior together. And those are good desires! God-given! And yet, the God who gives those desires has also seen fit to not fulfill them right now.

So where does that leave us? This deep ache of loneliness and desire for marriage can shake us to our core. So as I listened to my friend share with tears filling her eyes, so much began swirling around in my own mind. For these are well-traveled paths in my heart.

First of all, it IS painful. It IS a trial. As my mom reminded me, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." So yes, a very real grieving is natural. And yet, our Savior does not leave us there. We must not leave ourselves there in such a mire.

This whole issue of being single and longing for marriage all comes down to , yet again, trust. Trust in my Savior who does all things well. It may not seem like He's doing well as I celebrate another birthday alone. And yet, how arrogant of me to place myself as judge. And how mistaken for me to overlook the thousand other blessings He's given me, clinging with white knuckles to the one blessing I so desperately want that I have not received. Lord, forgive me. You have been nothing but good!

"He who did not spare His own Son, will He not with Him graciously give us all things." Romans 8:32. Like everything else in life, after I strip away all the peripheral issues, I come back to this. He has done it all for me. He has met my greatest need. I deserved wrath. And I've been shown mercy. This silences my murmuring heart. Quickly puts me in my proper place - kneeling with open hands before my Savior who does all things well.

Yes, He does ALL things well.