Feb
25
2016
Praying A New Name
Posted in Prayer 4 Comments
When my husband is traveling, things are a bit different around the house.
My music is played a little louder.
My dinner may be a wonderful salad with every vegetable imaginable.
My errands can run a bit longer since I don’t have to rush home.
One thing that I particularly enjoy is talking out loud to God before I fall asleep.
I always feel that God is close to me, but those times of sweet conversation are precious.
I say whatever is on my heart.
I know that I am heard.
The other night my prayers were for our nation.
Each day the headlines get more and more absurd.
Each day the American people’s anger seems to take precedence over common sense.
People are frustrated and scared for their future but government is not the answer.
God sets up rulers and tears them down at His discretion.
God allows things to happen that we don’t understand.
Things that will ultimately bring Him glory.
We don’t see the whole picture but God does.
The longer we walk with God, the more we learn to trust Him.
Still, my fervent prayer for our nation began and went on for quite some time.
Father,
I do not understand what is going on in our country. Every day, it seems as if we are getting further and further away from You. We have turned our back on You yet expect You to come to our rescue. You have every right to turn away from us as a nation and turn us over to ourselves. I ask for mercy, Father. I ask that for the sake of Your remnant, You will hear my prayer. I ask that You hear the prayers of Your people as they call out to You. We deserve judgement and yet You still have Your protective hand over us. Thank You. You promised Abraham that You would not destroy the city for the sake of the 50 righteous people who were there. As Abraham pleaded with You, You promised not to destroy the city for the sake of the 45, or the 40, or the 30, or the 20, or the 10 righteous people who were there. I ask as Abraham asked that for the sake of Your remnant, You will not destroy us. I ask as Abraham asked that You will have mercy on us. Your church needs to wake up! Your people need to stand on Your word. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18) We need to see things through Your eyes and see how far we have fallen. People are confused. People are angry. People are allowing their emotions to dictate their choices. We need Your help. We need your restraint. We need to know what Your word says so that we will not believe the lies any longer. I have no right to ask for mercy. Your people have no right to ask for mercy. We deserve Your judgement. Yet Your loving kindness is lavished on us. Your mercies are new every morning. Father, turn the hearts of the people back to You. You are the only answer to the world’s problems. No leader, no government is going to solve the problems we face. We need You. We have no right to ask, but because of Jesus we come to You boldly. We trust and believe that You are sovereign. Everything is in Your hands. Father, turn our country back to You. Give Your church boldness to preach the gospel to a hurting world so that they may know the Hope to which You call us. In the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
That prayer was prayed as I fell asleep.
I woke up still thinking about my requests as I laid them at God’s feet.
The headlines continue to baffle me.
I know my prayer and the countless prayers of others are heard.
Then I met a friend for lunch.
She prayed before we ate.
I listened and thought I heard her wrong.
When she finished, I asked her about what I thought I heard.
Did I hear you say, Daddy? I asked almost embarrassed in case I heard incorrectly.
That’s how I always pray; my husband and children, too, she said with a smile.
Daddy, God; that’s what we call Him, she said with feeling.
It is in the Bible, and I knew exactly which verse she meant.
“Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36)
Abba, Father.
Daddy, God.
The same thing said different ways.
The same truth, so personal and so precious.
Our Daddy God hears us.
Whether my prayers are said out loud or in my heart, Daddy God hears.
Where two or three are gathered in His name, Daddy God hears.
When His people all over the world are praying simultaneously, Daddy God hears.
What truth is spoken in that greeting.
What promise.
We can only call Him, Daddy, because of Jesus.
We have that close relationship because Jesus’ Father is our Father and His God is our God.
I have a wonderfully new way of calling out to God, my Father.
Daddy, God.
So tender.
So precious.
Lay your heart before Him.
No holds barred.
Talk to Him.
Your Daddy God is listening.
Wonderful words. I too feel He is my Daddy and that I can bring all my concerns to Him and He hears me. The fact that I had a wonderful, caring and wise Daddy in this life is such a blessing; easy to relate to God that way. I also share your concerns about our country. I wish people would vote with their reason rather than their emotion. But God is in control and we must believe that all things happen for a reason. We must keep praying for people to seek God’s guidance as they vote, as in all parts of their lives.
Amen, Sue!
How blessed we are to have a God who hears the prayers of His children.
Gina
Beautiful Gina. Didn’t know such a small thing I’ve prayed for almost 20 years could impact someone I respect so much.
Marice,
Your simple words touched my heart. It is the perfect name for God…Daddy! Thank you, friend!
Gina