Prayer: When the Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary by Sandi Somers

 

Image by Pixabay

In a blog post last year, Lorilee Guenther asked, “At what point does the ordinary become extraordinary?”

 “Many individual events that appear ordinary at first glance are anything but…when they are surrounded by prayer and by listening to God. She added that “they are evidences of recognising and listening to the voice of the Great Shepherd's guiding.” 

 Out of Lorilee’s prayers and listening come courage, risk and faith. Lorilee compared herself to Elijah, hiding in a cave in fear. “Risk and faith are themes that show themselves in my writing and I know the only way out of the cave I have been in is through the extraordinary tool of prayer God has given us. It is through prayer I have the faith to take the risks. Now I need to remember that every time I am tempted to retreat to the cave.”

 Other blog writers have acknowledged how God made their ordinary experiences extraordinary.

 God used VickieStam in ways she never would have imagined when she faced her reluctance and fears of going on a mission trip to Cuba. As she became a prayer support, others said, "Just ask Vickie to pray for that. She seems to have a direct line to God."

God also brought a special friend, one who had been battling anxiety and depression. “We became fast allies with more than one purpose in mind,” she wrote. "We can do God's work and support each other on the journey.” It didn’t take long to realize that God had put the two women together for a prayer ministry and vision for the poor.   

 Janice Mansell discovered how intercession brings about the extraordinary, both for herself and for others. “Over the years as I have learned to pray for others, God has graced me with measures of compassion, empathy, and letting the Love of Christ flow through me to bring relief, strength, safekeeping healing, deliverance and guidance to them in their lives,” she blogged.

“Time spent in intercessory prayer can be exhausting, mentally, emotionally and physically when we intercede for others with our whole heart. The spiritual Joy and Refreshment that remains when the burden is lifted and you know God hears and answers prayer in that person's life or situation is comforting and eternally rewarding.  Revelation 5:8  KJV.”

Janice affirmed that God will continue to release “our stored up prayers…into the lives of those we pray for…long after we are gone.”

 One of my most dramatic instances of God accomplishing the extraordinary—and seemingly impossible—was concerning my niece Joelle’s graduation from university. She had invited her extended family. However, Joelle’s grandma (my mom) had a specialist’s medical appointment that day and couldn’t attend. Mom was stoic about missing, but I was not to be deterred. I asked God to change the appointment, but that seemed impossible, as you don’t change critical meetings with a specialist.

 Joelle’s aunt and uncle, (Karen and Peter), drove Mom to the appointment, leaving extra early. They knew highway construction would delay their drive—and they weren’t sure how long their wait would be. Somehow, construction had been halted and so they breezed through, arriving extra-extra early for Mom’s appointment. The minute they arrived, the receptionist called my mom in, and the appointment was finished in a few minutes. Mom, Karen, and Peter had plenty of time to get to Joelle’s graduation.

This experience was a major turning point in my prayer life. I discovered that God not only cares that a grandma, aunt, and uncle could attend a family member’s graduation, but that as I pray a single request, God has a wealth of creativity to do the extraordinary. From then on I began to ask God more boldly for what seemed like impossible situations, knowing God could answer beyond what I asked or thought.

When God releases His power, hundreds of everyday situations become transformed, and our most ordinary experiences become holy. Let us pray, pause to listen, reflect on what God has done or will do, and praise Him for his extraordinary answers.

 

What seemingly ordinary event has turned into God’s extraordinary as a result of your prayers? What step of faith did you take? What valuable principles can you share with your readers? 

I look forward to your story and experiences which will add depth and scope to this, such a broad topic.

Easter Reflections - guest post by Janice Mansell

Art by Hannah Lenz used with permission

While reflecting on Easter and the Lenten season preceding, I remember how I used to enjoy the Easter sunrise service and breakfast at church when our four children were young. I also remember that I didn't feel good leading up to events of the remembrance of the crucifixion. The actual aspects of it and when I later heard a detailed account of physical aspects of crucifixion, it sickened me to realize how brutal it was.

The hymn, 'He Arose ! ' became my theme and anchor as the Joy of the Lords’ Resurrection and sacrificial love filled my mind, soul and body. For me as a child, Easter meant a new outfit, and some coloured hard boiled eggs, that mom and dad hid so we could 'hunt for them'.  As far as the actual meaning element of Easter, there was some contact with one of mom's aunts who was a Christian, but she was considered to be too radical to be taken seriously.

Sometimes my dad took us to a nominal church that didn't preach a saving gospel. However, when I was 12, my oldest brother and I went to a rustic Bible camp in Northern Saskatchewan and on the strength of John 3:16, accepted Christ and got a lot of new rules to follow.

I don't remember being assured of God's loving presence or His intervening in our lives. Later on, my dad, then mom, gave their lives to the Lord, and we started to attend a Bible believing church when we could. There was a form of Godliness, but still I didn't know the power of God on my behalf.

When I first married, my husband and I "did the right thing,” and attended church regularly.I still often wondered about the cross of Easter, and what was good about God - the man who was brutally treated and crucified on ' Good Friday’?


A recent quote by J.I. Packer  in 'Knowing God'  made me reflect. He suggested for many unbelievers, the really staggering Christian claim that Jesus of Nazareth was  God - made - man .. as truly and fully divine as He was human.  I wondered if, even though I have been a Christian for for 68 years now if I was still struggling with that understanding or not appropriating the blessing and power and forgiving love of this Saviour?
 
As for Lent, we have been unable to attend Easter services for many years and can't really identify the humble and worshipful steps and feelings that bring me to reverence at this time.
I know my God personally but often don't experience His presence in fellowship withothers. I know Christians are to uphold, encourage and help each other, but I feel at times to be  'on the outside, looking in' on the fellowship and absolute love that should flow because of the Christ who died and rose again triumphant.

The song ‘Up From The Grave He Arose!’ Is one where there lies my hope, joy and peace for time and eternity. Lent is not just about giving up, but also giving over all of ourselves and life experiences to God. I watch in wonder as others seem to have a genuine experience of being blessed in honouring God in these ways. Sacrifice of self and nurturing  my daily walk with Him has been important to me.

Although I know the importance of Good Friday and the resurrection that Easter represents I think the Christmas song,  ‘Ring Those Bells ' sparks more of a full response in my soul and lets my spirit soar with the limitless beauty of God's wild and gracious and giving love for His own.

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Janice Mansell has been writing for fifty years. She has come and gone from Inscribe since it originally started. A one time community correspondent she has spent the vast majority of her writing life chronicling the day to day, and memories.

January Guest post by Janice Mansell

My desire to write more widely has been encouraged by the InScribe writer's blogs this past year. As with stored up prayers and unshed tears, God's call on my life the past two years has been to seek Him for Himself, not asking or expecting rewards in return.

It seems its time for the ever jostling thoughts and experiences of life to be set free to help, challenge or encourage others. When I considered the challenge for this month to seek a word or Scripture to build on, I started praying for God's guidance in it. Almost immediately, the words ' Jesus wept' came to mind. I continued asking what to do with the idea.
The related thoughts kept coming and I trust my heart and mind are attuned to the message I received.

Jesus wept in John 11:35 at the tomb of Lazarus who had died.  Jesus was weeping because he felt the weight of death and grieved with the people. Those who witnessed this still didn't get the message Jesus is the resurrection and life when he subsequently brought Lazarus out of the tomb.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem in Matthew 23: 37 - 39 and the hardness of the hearts of the citizens of Jerusalem to His coming to dwell among them as Savior and Redeemer.
I have done my share of weeping over time, tears of loneliness, disappointment, discouragement and rejection of who  and what God very patiently is molding and refining me to be in His plan.

In the words of the song, He Washed My With Tears, that I might see ... the glory of Himself revealed to me.  I have learned that those tears could also be a sacrifice of Praise to Him, whatever the circumstance.

Over the years as I have learned to pray for others, God has graced me with measures of compassion, empathy, and letting the Love of Christ flow through me to bring relief, strength, safekeeping healing, deliverance and guidance to them in their lives.
So often when I look at others struggling to make sense of life the words of another song come to me . Jesus offers that we all can come ‘to the waters, stand by My side, I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied.' * This is the way of healing for their anguish and hopelessness.

I came across this verse in PsalmS 119:136 KJV the other day. "Streams of tears flow from my eyes for your law is not obeyed "

Time spent in intercessory prayer  can be exhausting, mentally, emotionally and physically when we intercede for others  with our whole heart. The spiritual Joy and Refreshment that remains when the burden is lifted and you know God hears and answers prayer in that person's life or situation is comforting  and eternally rewarding.  Revelation 5:8  KJV.
When our stored up prayers will be released into the lives of those we pray for, so that God continues to work in their lives, long after we are gone.

We then have assurance that God will continue to weave, behind the scenes, the tapestry of His will and provision in that person's life. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus wept again, as He interceded on His own behalf, He ended by praying 'Not My will, but Yours be done.'  Matthew 26: 36 - 46  KJV. So we must pray for each other, ourselves and our writing.
In Heaven, God promises to 'wipe away all the tears of our earthly travail and sorrows.  Revelation 21 : 4 - 6   Until that day, I pray I will strive to be worthy of continuing to seek God's intervention in others lives.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus and find us faithful to your calling on our lives.

*For Those Tears I Died by Marsha Steven

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Janice Mansell has been writing for fifty years. She has come and gone from Inscribe since it originally started. A one time community correspondent she has spent the vast majority of her writing life chronicling the day to day, and memories.