Daily Devotional for November 9, 2021

Stevie is a beautiful little girl in our church.  Sunday, I noticed Stevie looked pretty rough at the Children’s Time.  I didn’t know why.  I found out yesterday.
 
I got the following email from Stevie’s mother.  All I can say is, God is good.

“Hey Tom!  

I don’t know who reads the prayer request written on the attendance forms each Sunday, or who does the actual praying, but whoever did it made a HUGE impact in our families lives.
  
Stevie got a rock shoved in her ear last Monday.    I took her to urgent care to have it removed but they couldn’t get it out. 
 
They sent us to a ENT specialist.  He couldn’t get the rock out either and told us we needed to have surgery to have it removed.   He scheduled it for last Friday.  Chad and I felt off about having her put to sleep over this so we canceled the surgery.
    
On Sunday I put a prayer request in for her on the attendance sheet.
   
The rock fell out tonight while she was watching t.v.
  
Kinda feel like that was a God thing.  So if you can thank whoever prayed for her for us I would appreciate it!” 
 
If you ever wonder if God hears your prayers, if they matter, or if God responds, the answer is yes
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The single greatest privilege I have as the pastor of a church, filled with people I genuinely love, is that I get to pray for them.

I am a huge believer in prayer.  That’s why at the very beginning of each Traditional Worship Service, I ask any prayer concerns be written on the attendance slips.  Then, on Monday morning, Ellie puts a copy of each prayer concern on my desk.

In our Praise and Worship Service, there is a prayer wall, where people write prayer concerns on small pieces of paper, fold them in half and place them in the slots on the wall.  Each week, Pastor Kit places those prayer concerns on my desk.

The point is to this meandering devotional is that prayer is an essential part of what our church is about.  It matters in our church and it also matters in your personal spiritual development.

If you are concerned about someone, pray.

If you feel as if you are somehow disconnected from your God and life, pray.

If you need guidance, pray.

If you feel lost, pray.

If you feel tired and need to be rejuvenated and refreshed, pray.

If you are stressed, anxious, and filled with worry, pray.
 
Never worry about being worthy enough for God to hear your prayers, because if God listen’s to someone as unworthy as me, you are a shoo-in.
   
Paul said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  (Philippians 4:6)

Prayer is what keeps you grounded in the midst of a chaotic world.  It matters.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for hearing my prayer.  Above all my individual requests, I pray your will be done for everyone.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

According to scripture, when you prayer, God takes your prayers so seriously, God demands silence in heaven so he can lend his full attention to your prayer.  Then, after hearing your prayer, God always answers.  (Revelation 8:1-5)

Your prayers matter to God.  So do you.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins