Praying with God’s character in mind

Off to an Orlando Magic game with Daddy

Sweet Baby

Baby news: Coriena gained 1 1/2 pounds in her first two weeks and grew 1/2 inch. She’s been sleeping exceptionally well for a newborn – usually doing at least 4 hours (and sometimes more) the first shift of the night. Lauren and Meredith are adjusting well, and enjoy holding and kissing Coriena. I feel like I’m recovering and adjusting pretty well – a special thanks to my mom for all her help the 10 days she was here, my family and friends in Orlando for the meals they’ve been bringing and their help with the kids, and to Erik for all his help and his special attention to the big girls.

This last week I was reminded of two important things during Beth Moore’s video at Biblestudy. One was of the importance of thanking God for His work in my life and for answered prayer. As Beth said, who wants to give gifts to someone who doesn’t thank you. It made me think especially about all the time I spend praying for something (ex. when would Coriena come), compared to how much time I spent thanking God for the answered prayer (her safe and timely arrival) – it was very convicting to think on.

The other point that struck home was that God is such a big God, and so often my prayers make Him out to be an incapable and ineffective God (see my previous post: “God is who He says He is.”) Why is it so hard for me to believe that God will provide for us financially (something that I’ve struggled with for years, and yet God has always provided)? At the beginning of the study, Beth challenged us to pray in faith for something that we didn’t think God could accomplish. So I’ve been praying that God would provide a way for me to stay home with the kids and not have to go back to work while they’re small. Her talk this week encouraged me to continue in that prayer, and anticipate how God would chose to answer that prayer.