Pray Like You Believe It~

Isaiah 59:1 "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear."

Before we proceed, let's all take a moment to reflect.

Are we alive and kicking on life's journey?

Then let's thank Him: "Thank you, dear Lord!"

Let's proceed...

That verse above is one of my all-time favorites. It's an in-your-face assertion that does not hold back.  If it weren't for all the sensitive people in the world, God might have even finished the verse with the words, "As if, honey child!"

This verse reminds us of a powerful fact: God's hand is more than enough to save you from whatever you need saving from.

Think about the most intense prayer request you have ever received. Or think about the most pressing personal need you have ever had. Some are biggies, like when a friend asked for prayer for her upcoming cancer surgery.  Others are not quite so urgent like when a little girl asked me to pray so she could find a lost earring.  Either way, God's hand is long enough to reach down and save those who believe that His ears have heard their cries.   

And notice how God does not put any exceptions in this verse.  He does not limit His saving for specific needs nor His hearing for certain requests.  Everything and anything is within reach of our Lord, and it is our responsibility to pray like we believe it!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that Your hearing is perfect and that You have tuned in to my prayer right now. I invite Your awesome, far-reaching hand to save me from _________ and save the one or ones I love from _________. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

As Long as I Have Breath~

TGIF Greetings~

Confession time: Sometimes I feel as though my lovely husband is not listening to me.  I know he hears me, because I have a lovely, mellifluous voice.  And I am not known for being the silent type.  But listen?  Really understand what’s in my heart? Appreciate my concerns, worries, and fears?  Not always, no.  Don’t be surprised.  He’s my husband; he’s not God.  It is unfair to expect him to get me 100% of the time.  Plus, he’s human as well, which means he has his own stuff to deal with. 

Yet, never was this inability to really listen to me more evident then when our kids lived at home and were going out for the evening.  I knew he would be fast asleep by 11 PM but that I would lie in bed, wide awake, until I heard the glorious sound of the children arriving safely home.  He could not understand why I could not fall asleep, and I could not understand how he so easily could.  Over and over and over again I would share how this was a real problem for me, and over and over and over again Jorge just could not see what the big deal was. 

Sometimes I would get so annoyed that Jorge was soundly sleeping while I was not that I would barricade his nostrils with my knuckles and silently laugh while he gasped for air.  (Lord, forgive me L) 

But God is so good.  He really used this time to teach me some beautiful things.  More than once He whispered to me, “Yenisita, let Him sleep.  He can not protect your kids anyway.  Besides, I am listening to your concerns and worries as a mom – perfectly!”

Yeah! Not one word or one thought has gone unnoticed by our Lord.  In fact, and I have shared this with you before, every single one of our prayers is so precious to Him that He keeps them eternally.  (See Revelation 5:8)  I can’t even recall all my prayers! And yet one day, God Himself will show us how He faithfully and lovingly treasured every single prayer, petition, plea, intercession, cry, and supplication.  

“Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:2)

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for listening - for coming down to us and really paying attention.  For giving us Your undivided attention.  You are amazing.  As long as we have breath we will pray.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

As If~

Isaiah 59:1 "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear."

Before we proceed, let's all take a moment to reflect.

Are you alive?

Did you make it?

Did you receive startling news and yet you survived?

Did you have a rough week but arrived at Friday nonetheless?

Then thank HIM!

"Thank you, dear Lord!"


Now, that verse above is one of my all-time favorites. It's an in-your-face assertion that does not hold back. If it weren't for all the sensitive people in the world, God might have even finished the verse with the words, "As if, honey child!"

You all know I like to break it down a La Macarena style. And if we do that what we get with this verse is a simple yet powerful fact: God's hand is more than enough to save you from whatever you need saving from.

The laundry list of requests just from this week alone include prayer for sick kids, broken hearts, spouses who need surgery, those looking for love, job issues, school concerns, relationship struggles...and honestly it would be overwhelming except for two truths: (1) I am not God and therefore I feel no pressure to act like it, and (2) God's hand is not too short--NEVER EVER NEVER!!!

Let that penetrate to your weary soul. Accept it at face value. Don't put any "excepts" after it. Live as though it's 100 accurate.

And the second part of that verse is important as well: God hears us when we pray.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that Your hand is PHENOMENAL. Save me from _________ and save the one or ones I love from _________. In Jesus' name, AMEN~