“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”—Matthew 21:22
While God’s Word tells us, ask and you will receive. That doesn’t mean God is a genie in a bottle. Our request needs to be made in His name according to His will. This means that I can’t pray for anything and tack on, it is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things and expect God to honor my request. He will say yes to our prayers that align with His will that will glorify Him.
When my thoughts wander during my prayer time, I need to stop and address what is on my mind with God. If my mind is drifting, I obviously need His help to either conquer that thought or help me with it.
Perfect example happened this week. I had a doctor appointment this past Wednesday. I have something called, white coat syndrome. Just about any time I go to the doctor and they take my blood pressure, it is sky high. My mother has been on medication for her high blood pressure since her 30’s. It stems from her worry/anxiety. I have never had an issue with it, except at the doctor office.
I have even gotten to the point where I usually take it the morning of an appointment and screenshot it so I can show the doctor my normal reading, but I forgot to do it this time. I do have an app where I try and chart my blood pressure once or twice a month, so that I have something to show the doctor if needed.
It’s not like my doctor appointment was a high stress situation. I even bring my knitting to calm my soul. Despite my knitting and praying, when the nurse took my blood pressure, it was really high. As soon as that cuff is on my arm, worry kicks in. I get in my own head and have a hard time not thinking about it. Am I going to be like my mom? What if I really do have high blood pressure…?’ Of course, once I got home, I took it again and it was normal. Okay, maybe I took it 2-3 more times that day just to make sure…which it was.
I have to be careful and not get sucked into, Why can’t I calm my nerves before it is taken? I thought I gave it to God this morning. What is wrong with me? This is a mindset that only makes it worse. As I am writing this, I had an epiphany. I felt God impress on my heart, yes, Lisa you pray about it, but you haven’t ever asked your prayer warriors to pray for you too.
I’ll be honest, up until now, I thought, how embarrassing. How can I ask my friends to pray for something like this. I should be able to have total faith and not give into this mindset. That’s pride on my part. Yes, I should be able to give this to God, but I also need the prayers of my friends knowing they are praying the same thing for me. It gives you comfort when you know that others are lifting you up in prayer to give you the needed strength to conquer whatever fear or stressor you are facing. No need it too small to give to God and friends in prayer.
Satan knows how powerful prayer is. Of course, he wants to shame me. His desire is to get me to believe the lies of self-sufficiency. I obviously can not do this on my own. God uses our weak spots to depend on Him for peace and strength.
I will never forget when my late mother-in-law was dying from lung cancer. She was having to go to the hospital on a regular basis to get her lungs drained. My sister-in-law and I would tag team. I would take her and get her all checked in; she would stay with her to bring her home. Every time, they would take her blood pressure it was really high. I get it. She was about to get her lung aspirated. That would give me high anxiety too.
One morning, when I went to pick her up, before we left, the Holy Spirit pricked my heart to pray with her about it. I specifically prayed for God to calm her nerves and for a normal blood pressure reading. Guess whose blood pressure was perfect? Yep! I told her, that is because we gave it to God this morning.
I didn’t feel silly asking her if we could pray about it and praying it for her, so why am I not doing the same? I had the faith then that there was power in our prayers together. Like her, she might have been praying about it, but it took the love and prayers of another person to truly soothe her soul for that normal number. God convicted me as I wrote this, that pride has been my issue. I have no problem asking how I can pray for others. I shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask others for small prayers for myself.
Next time I know I am going to the doctor, I plan on sending out a text to some of my prayer warriors asking them to pray for a calm soul that will lead to a normal blood pressure reading. God doesn’t want us to try and cope on our own. He knows that those of us with anxiety need intercessory prayers of others to help our peace. It is okay for us to ask. It IS God’s will for us to receive His peace through prayers. “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”—Matthew 21:22
Father God,
Forgive me when I let pride keep me from asking for prayers. No prayer is less important than another. Help me let go of what is on my mind. I know You want me to trust You to calm my soul. One way to ensure this is the intercessory prayers of others. Thank You for those people You have put in my life. Use me to be that person for someone else this week. I lift those up to You who are struggling with worry or fear. Fill them with a peace that surpasses all understanding. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.
February Verse:
“You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”—Psalm 18:28
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