the following was written in my 20 prayers for 2020 (this list is not exhaustive, but only pertains to what I intend to write)
1. to be patient when i am afraid
2. to save money
3. to be more gracious when things don’t go my way
4. to choose healthy
5. time together
6. that we would learn to give as a family
7. Clayton would believe in himself and grow into a leader
8. ^^ same for Lily
9. that our community would not live in so much fear
10. for healing for family dynamics
11. for are kids (in the church) to know who they are and to live out of Love.
12. that we would consume less as a world
13. we would care more for each other and our environment
14. we would learn to listen to each other
you can blame the corona virus on my 2020 prayers… because clearly my list begged for it.
I posted my prayers on the window above our kitchen sink so that when I am at the kitchen sink (which is about 344 times a day now) I can remind myself not only of the things I wrote 4 months ago- but to really see how God is graciously and painfully rooting something beautiful in our family.
Have you looked back at your prayers from 2020- do any of them seem painfully (or beautifully) real in the context of our current reality?
I actually feel really positive and alive when I read my prayers. I am reminded that life in January when I wrote the prayers was not the life I wanted at the end of the year- I really want God to work in me- I want to grow- but I know that it’s painful to change and grow.
I have been reading 1 Peter (I try daily) because Eric urged us to choose a small book in the Bible to read over daily – for it to become our quarantine covering- and it’s nothing short of holy to see how scripture- regardless of what we choose- can wash over us, convict us, protect us, and comfort us.
1 Peter 1 has the following verses:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Amen. I want to believe my faith is worth more than gold. I want to read my prayers and find comfort in the ways God is meeting me.
I miss you all.
I trust that this is the best way.
I trust God even eating gravel….
Amen! I love all your prayers especially that our village children would know that they are loved.
One of my prayers for the last couple years has been the strip clubs and adult bookstore on Speedway would close- and currently they are closed! Another was a closer relationship with our neighbors! Met!
One that this virus does not allow is I asked for a beach vacation for myself ?
That’s interesting… I have had similar prayers as you, Coleen, about similar places in Tucson, and noticed with dark humor that they were being finally answered (at least temporarily). Although I want to say that one of the clubs I prayed against ages decades ago, shut down years later and never did reopen.
Join me also in praying for those, especially the women that work there, that they find a better way to support themselves and perhaps their families.
Thanks so much for inviting us to remember our prayers Adrienne. My heart is strengthened reading seeing how God is answering yours and sustaining you as you stand at your window 344x a day!
Thanks for sharing this with us, Adrienne!
I think it’s so cool that you are seeing God’s response to you in this situation.
I just now pulled out my 20 Prayers and found some answers to prayer blossoming – and I don’t even remember writing them down! I’m grateful for the reminder to keep holding these in prayer.
I love your list, Adrienne. I know what you mean about God have a weird way of answering prayers 🙂 I could give you some funny examples sometime…