The Power of Prayer

Have you ever had one of those weeks were you know God is testing you? Maybe it's work, an illness or family troubles... it seems like when you get knocked down and are on your way back up, you get knocked down again. The beautiful thing about God is that whether you realize it or not, He gives you the the power of prayer to cope when you think nothing else will calm the storm. Last week at church, I walked in with a lot of anger in my heart, anger that I didn't realize was so strong until after the fact. Between struggling with emotions of being a cancer survivor (who knew there is more than the feeling of gratefulness?) and some family troubles, it's been an emotionally draining few days.

The best part of holding anger is the point where you can begin letting go and that happened with what our church, Church at Charlotte, deems as the sermon that "no one likes and few believe". This sermon is called Kingdom NOW and is, without a doubt, one of the most humbling I have had heard in a very long time. I was reminded that while all the anger/worry/frustration I carry weighs me down, Jesus paid the highest price and I have the ability to give Him glory by doing what? Living in His word. Let go of the little things (which feel massive at the time) that don't matter because it's what the Lord has asked of us.

Gosh, it sounds so simple as I type this.

Because of the weather here, service were cancelled this weekend so I listsened to last week's sermon and it felt good to start a new week off reminding myself to be joyful, even during the hard times. I discovered the power of prayer and it's wonderous workings a long time ago and I appreciate all that have said a prayer for Brad and I over the past couple weeks. If I can ever do the same, please let me know; it is one of the biggest and smallest things we can do for our fellow man - and woman! Now, I won't preach because Lord knows, Jim Kallam is much better at it than I am, but one verse that stuck with me as I went along my week, mainly because I found myself saying over and over "Wow, I do this more than I'd like to admit", was from Matthew 5:23-24:

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

This is the word of the Lord. Amen.