Prayer: Praise, Petition, and Unleashing Power, Part Three

I hope you are all having a great week- it can be hard to jump back into routine!

Continuing on with our study of The Lord’s Prayer, today we focus on Matthew 6:11. “Give us this day our daily bread”.

This verse highlights that we are to ask God for what we need. He already knows what we need, but He loves to hear from us, to see us asking Him and trusting Him.

Our needs do not end with physical or material requests.  We have emotional needs and spiritual needs, as well.  God knows that- He created us!  So, we can also ask Him to fulfill our emotional and spiritual needs.

A few years ago, I was asking God to give me peace.  Without going into details, many things in my life needed to change.  I had no peace.  I saw no way out, no way to improve the situation.  I asked God repeatedly to move in a big way.

I had some medical issues, which ended up sending me to a specialist, who determined I should have surgery.

When I awoke from that surgery, my doctor and my husband came into the room.  The doctor looked at me, and said, “Stefanie, I walked your tissue to the lab myself, you have cancer”.

Forty-five minutes later I was in our car, riding home with my husband.  He kept looking over at me, asking if I were alright.  I guess he thought I was loopy from the surgical drugs because I had a small smile on my face.

I was only 32.  There was very little family history.  This was not what I wanted, but it had God written all over it.  I was curious (on many levels!) to see what God would do.

But I was at peace. Psalm 23:2-3 says “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”  I was graciously given, at that moment, and for oh-so many to follow, a deep satisfying peace which passes all understanding. My soul was at peace.  I could trust God entirely- even with my life on the line- quite literally.

God not only provided for my emotional needs, but He also provided for my physical needs as well.  Today, there is no cancer in my body.  I am much closer to God as a result of the experience.

There were so many good things which came from my journey, but for myself, I often think that God used it to draw me even closer to Him, to let me know that yes, He can provide for me physically, even when doctors tell me statistically I will not be here in five years.  And, He wants me (and you!) to know He loves us each immensely and wants to provide for us emotionally and spiritually as well.

I think sometimes, He just wants to be asked.

Reflection: What concerns or requests have I withheld from God?  Why?

Take some time today to share those with Him, He really wants to hear the desires of your heart!