I recently received a prayer journal from my godfather, and God has already been using this simple journal in miraculous ways in my life. First, a bit of background: every Thursday, the local ex-pat women meet for a Bible Study. A couple weeks ago, we were planning to start a new study focused on prayer and learning different approaches to prayer that have been practiced by spiritual giants such as Martin Luther, Ignatius of Loyola, and so forth. About an hour before the study began, I heard a knock on my apartment door, and I opened it to receive a package from the postman. A note on receiving mail: it is very sporadic and quite unreliable. Therefore, I was so excited to get a completely intact package with my godfather's distinct handwriting on the front. As I ripped it open, I was surprised to see a Prayer Journal with the logo on the bottom for the local Christian radio station which was the background music to most of my childhood growing up outside of Baltimore. As I opened the journal, the first page included a letter from the vice president of the radio station, saying that each and every journal had been prayed over with the hope that each person who received a journal would draw closer to the Lord. I realized how coincidental it was that a beautiful prayer journal arrived in the unreliable mail an hour before I would leave to begin a study on prayer in the midst of the most trying time of my life… and all I could do was praise the One who orchestrates all events for the good of those who love Him.
Currently, we are studying, reflecting upon, and practicing the “Jesus Prayer” which is a simple prayer focused on bringing the whole person – heart, mind, and body – into the presence of God. It consists of only ten words: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” As I was writing those words in my new prayer journal, I thought about the continued uncertainty of my future and what I was doing with my life, and I questioned the Lord, asking, “Will You really have mercy on me?” In the background, I was playing the Shane & Shane album Psalms, Vol 2. As soon as I lifted up my prayer, the chorus from the album’s adaption of Psalm 23 rang out: “Surely goodness, surely mercy, right beside me all my days.” The instant answer, directly from the Word of God, astounded me, and I was immediately humbled and in awe of the One who loves me so much to answer me so obviously.
Thank you to all who join me in prayer, and I pray you continue calling out to our Lord Jesus Christ, who always answers our pleas.