Why Pray?

1. We pray because it is how we communicate with God.
2. We pray because Jesus prayed and He expects us to pray.
3. We pray because God grants us the power to pray in the Spirit. 
4. We pray because it helps us not be anxious about anything. 
5. We pray because it is one way to be a doer of the Word. 

The Lord, by His grace, gave me three wonderful older women who each earned a spot to speak into my life to train and encourage me and most importantly pray for me. One was my maternal grandmother, one was my mother, and one was my aunt. Each of them fulfilled the charge given to them in Titus 2:2-5 which says, “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”  

Today I am going to talk about my Grandma Jan. 

My Grandma Jan, who is now with the Lord, is probably the wisest woman I have known.  I long to be like her.  My grandma checked in on me often through letters and phone calls.  In her letters, she would start with what she was seeing out her window talking of God’s creation.  Then she would share about her week and then ask me about mine.  She closed every letter with Philippians 1:6 which say, “He who began a good work in you will carry that good work to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  If she called, she would start by asking, “How is my Heather?”  Oh, how I loved that I was hers.  This question gave me permission to share my heart with her.  My grandma was a wonderful listener and she remained quiet as I talked.  If I shared something that I was struggling with she would say, “Heather, I have some thoughts and I am only going to say them once, so listen.”  Knowing that she was not going to repeat herself and go on and on made me hang on her words.  She would share what she was thinking and then tell me that she would call the next day giving me to time to process and pray.  I knew she was praying for me.  My grandma Jan loved the Lord and she loved spending time with Him in His word and through prayer.  After she passed away, I was given one of her Bibles and tucked in the pages of her Bible was a prayer list.  The list starts with her children and their spouses, then her grandchildren, and then friends.  I wonder how many lists like this she made.  Having one of them is such a blessing.

I have a talk that I give called, “He Who Began a Good Work in You”, and it lays out her wisdom for marriage, finances, home management, and parenting.  I have given this talk to MOMS groups, bridal showers, and one on one mentoring.  Maybe I will share it here at some point.

I will leave you with one word of wisdom that she gave to me and that is to leave a light on so that you, your spouse, and children always have a lit house to come home to.  She said, “Heather, your home needs to be light house in your neighborhood.”  To this day, if you drive past our home, you will see a light or two on and shining at all times.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  In Him, we are also lights in the world.  We have the opportunity to reflect His light to this broken world.  Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so thatthey may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Who is God? He is the Light of the World.

Who are you in Him? You are reflectors of that Light.

Here is the song, “Light of the World” by Lauren Daigle.

Blessings to you!

Heather

When You Pray…

Praise the Lord for Who He is and who you are in Him.

Pray for you spouse and children.

It’s Thursday, so pray for your spouse’s extended family…grandparents, aunt & uncles, cousins.