Recently, I've had a lot of conversations about prayer, and what a beautiful thing that there were too many to recount here. In addition, I noticed that often my response to prayer takes me to scripture.
Unemployment to Prayer to New Job
A friend has been unemployed the last few months. A few days ago, I received a request to pray for a new job and that there was a possibility being explored. Right away I wrote the request down including details. Less than 24 hours later I received a text message celebrating how the possible job became a job offer and acceptance.
Another call was like a gut punch, and you wonder how the world can keep moving. Yet, in the midst of processing it, I was reminded of the following story…
In “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”, C.S. Lewis writes about how the Narnian ship, the ‘Dawn Treader’, had sailed from daylight into an area of endless darkness and the sailors were rowing to get back to the daylight. In the surround of darkness with not even a glimpse of light, Lucy whispers, “Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now.” (Aslan the lion is the Christ character in the Narnia allegory.) Soon an albatross brought a ray of light on the ship. It circled the mast three times where Lucy stood in the lookout of the mast and whispered, “Courage, dear heart.” Though the darkness did not immediately disappear, the albatross flew ahead and lead them back to the light.
Bible Promises Give Me Courage
Psalm 34:18 provided more words of courage, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
This morning a friend texted me with a prayer request for God to provide a way to manage finances while waiting for unemployment approval and the return to work. The message came while I was on the phone and tied up with my work, and before I could even read it, another message followed saying, “Praise the Lord!” and that arrangements had been made. Immediately, these words came to mind, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24 KJV).
Remember that “...he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:2-5 ESV).
Call to Action
Jesus calls us by name and leads us by his voice. Situations, requests, work difficulties, an impossible task, heartache; could they all be ways Jesus calls our name and leads us to pray?
