Tick Tock. Tick Tock.

Tick tock. Tick tock. She stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours as the clock in the hall seemed to be the only sound outside of her head. 

In her head thoughts ran like a kitchen faucet forgotten for hours. Then the memories flooded her mind in a staccato pattern. These were like a coffee pot percolating like the old-fashioned one she grew up listening to in the early hours every day of her childhood.

Sleep seemed elusive. Everyone in the house was soundly asleep in dreamland enjoying sweet rest. She had no rest and rest was not to be had. Or so she thought. She was wrong. 

Her thoughts then led to counting sheep. She counted to 100 and still her head was filled with next day To Do's and yesterday's Did Not Do List. Regret. Remorse. Restlessness.

Then the sweet voice of her God gently nudged her soul with a wonderful thought placed in the midst of the clattering thoughts in her head. My beloved, "Why don't you pray?" 

It was as if a wind rose in her heart - a beautifully gusty autumn breeze. The kind of gentle whispering of air freshly ushered in from the ocean. And her heart swelled with a wave of hope. For it was no longer about her needs and regrets and have-to-do's. It was about others.

She prayed that night. She talked to God about not knowing how to pray for so many because the needs were so great. She admitted how overwhelmed she was with all that was happening to so many in the world. Tears flowed as she grieved over so much loss and pain so many faced. Names came to mind of others who asked for prayer specifically. She admitted only God could meet those needs and change those hearts and heal those wounds.

Something happened in those few minutes. Her breathing slowed and her mind stopped racing. She no longer heard the Tick tock Tick tock from the hall. She closed her eyes as the tears evaporated. She took a deep breath then fell into a deep sleep. Peacefully in her Father's arms she slept as the angels danced overhead. She finally understood that counting sheep would never give the peace which prayer provides.

And the next day she arose rested and full of joy. And the next night and the night after and many nights after when the racing thoughts and regrets came - - - she never again listened to Tick tock Tick tock but instead to her Father's voice. She prayed and she slept peacefully. Again and again.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.- Psalm 4:8 NASB. 

And she did.....

Be blessed! Revelation 5:11, Isaiah 6:3 

Be Like the Widow!

She sat in Bible Study each week in small group looking at the note card before her. As everyone around her diligently scribbled prayer requests and praises, she sat and stared at a blank note card. 6 blank note cards proof of her not asking for prayer were in the front of her Bible in the form of blank note cards representing the 6 weeks she had attended that Bible Study.

That day was the last day of the study and she determined never to go back. No one understood her and no one cared. Yes, the women sat with her and commented to her how great the teaching time was, but no one ever asked her why she did not share in group or fill out a note card for prayer. Or ask her why she did not return the leader's calls or texts or even emails to see how she was doing.

So, she left that day. Never to return to Bible Study. She did not go back to church that Sunday or the day after or the day after that. And again, no one called or checked on her or seemed to care.

And so, when many years later she felt "life" had not treated her right and as she lay on her deathbed with just the almost silent beeping of the monitors which kept her alive for the moment, she prayed as praying seemed to be the only thing to do and the only connection she had with anyone. 

A lone tear fell onto her cheek as she took her last breath alone. The brief question lingered in her mind before she lost consciousness, "Am I going to die alone?"

And in the still, small silence, God answered her, "No my beloved daughter. I have heard your cry and have saved that last tear in a bottle." For you have chosen Me this day. You have prayed and I have heard. 

I share this story not to point at anyone for doing anything wrong. My point is to share that we as Christian women must be devoted to prayer. We must be watchful and thankful. In prayer, God speaks to our hearts and minds if we listen. 

We must passionately pursue God as well as His people if we are who we claim to be in Christ.

And so this parable comes to mind.....

Luke 18 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ² saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor ^[a]regard man. ³ Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ^[b]‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’⁴ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me I will ^[c]avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

The theme here? Always pray and not give up!

Unlike the "unjust judge", God wants to hear every word and every cry of our heart, whether we audibly share or write our requests on a note card. The "unjust judge" answered just cause he was bothered and wanted it to end. In the exact opposite manner, God wants us to come to Him and not only ask but keep talking to him about it! Of course, we also Adore, Confess and Thank God during our time of prayer (A.C.T.S.).

And so back to the woman we started out discussing - - honestly, it is never too late to pray and spend time with God. I mean, after your last breath you will either spend Eternity with God or be Eternally separated from Him in Hell (so yeah - that would be too late to talk to Him in prayer).

Be encouraged to be persistent like the widow and pursue God in prayer. Know there are note cards to write requests and praises on for a reason and women who care about you but maybe just didn't pursue you. Be like the widow. Faithfully. Daily. Pray with Purpose!

Please consider joining Springs Of Life (S.O.L) for monthly prayer. We meet via Zoom.us monthly on the second Tuesday of each week for 30 minutes beginning promptly at 7:00 pm est. For more information please visit www.bluewaterbro.com and see the Springs Of Life link on the homepage or visit us directly at https://springsoflife7.wixsite.com/john414