#LetUsPray By: Deborah Ard

James 5:13 “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”

In our last blog post I alluded to the fact that my salary had been cut.  The explanation is long but basically through misunderstanding on my part, I lost the $10,000 pay supplement I was receiving for National Board Certification. Losing the money was a devastating blow to our family that required my husband and me to carefully examine our finances. By making some changes and by being conscious of our spending, we realized that we could meet our obligations on mine and his base salaries. However, we were in the midst of paying for a family trip to Disney World that we have planned for after Thanksgiving. Thankfully, my husband Clark, is able to work side jobs as a sheriff’s deputy. Therefore, we made plans for the money from those side jobs to be used strictly to pay for our Disney trip.  His usually signed up to work in elementary schools on his days off so when the calendar for September came out he signed up to work every available day he could. I calculated the money he would receive from those jobs and found that in September he would make enough to finish our payments on our trip. Meanwhile, we continued our focus on careful spending day to day and as a result our children have learned to value careful spending. Towards the end of September, Clark was offered a new position with the Sheriff’s office. The move would be a lateral move financially as far as his base pay. However, due to the hours of the position he would no longer be able to work in elementary schools for extra pay.  We discussed the pros and cons of the job. That evening we prayed together for God’s guidance and direction and both of us felt as if God was leading him to take the position but we wanted to wait until we were sure before he accepted it. As usual, the next morning I awoke to read devotionals and pray.

Let me pause here for a background story. A couple years ago, I read The Circle Maker and Draw the Circle (The 40 Day Prayer Challenge) by Mark Batterson. In these books Batterson encourages you to keep a prayer journal and to write down and circle prayers. The 40 day prayer journey inspires you to pray and keep praying like never before. For years I have written in a journal, however as a result of reading these books I began to number the days I wrote down scriptures and prayers in my journal (For example; Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc).  I did this for over a year and it was amazing to watch as God answered prayers. However, after tracking over 400 days I had gotten out of the habit of writing the number on the top of each day’s journal entry. This past summer I began a new journal on mine and Clark’s 19^th wedding anniversary. So I decided that was a great day to start tracking my prayers again. However, along the time school started I once again fell out of the habit of writing what day I was on when I wrote in my journal. I do not write every day but rather every few days.

Now fast forward to the present story.  As I read and prayed the day following the job offer, I asked for God’s guidance and direction in regards to the job offer. As I was praying it occurred to me that I had stopped writing the day number in my journal and decided I would take a moment to catch it up. So I went back in my journal to where I had stopped tracking the days and I labeled each day. When I got to the current day I nearly passed out as I realized the day Clark was offered the job was Day 40 in this prayer journey! Holy moly guacamole! 40 days of circling prayers. 40 days in the wilderness.40 days of preparation. I knew then that Clark should accept the job. I ran upstairs and told him the story. He agreed that he should accept but he was still concerned about our finances. Accepting the job would be a leap of faith because we had no guarantee he would be able to bring in any extra pay for anything extra we may need above paying our monthly bills. We agreed to trust that God had a plan. Later that day Clark called and accepted the job. In the mail that day we received an overpayment check for $83! In my opinion that was confirmation that we would be ok financially as long as we were obedient to God and prayerfully listened to His guidance.

As I ponder the events of the last few months I realize God has taken the devastating situation of losing $10,000 and turned it into a great testimony. If I had not lost that money, we would not have examined our finances. We would not have realized how much money we were wasting. We would not have found that we can make it on our base salaries. And we would not have been ready to take a leap of faith for Clark to accept this new position. As a result, this new position is a huge blessing. Clark’s hours are now 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday instead of shift work. He is now home every evening and every weekend. He has worked shift work for 17 of our 19 years of marriage so my children have no idea what it’s like to have Daddy home every night or every weekend. As you read our last blog post you may remember that 2 years ago through much prayer God told me that in 2 years I would experience a change that would be focused on my home/family. At the time I thought it would have to do with me and my job. Little did I know that it would be as a result of my job and loss of money that I would be more focused on my family financially and now have more family time with Clark changing positions. 

Thank you for bearing with me as I shared that long story. But it was a continuation of our last blog that I felt must be shared. I pray that through reading this story that you may find hope. I pray that you understand more clearly how very much God loves us and cares about every detail of our lives. I pray that through reading these words you get a better sense of how God can take what seems to be most devastating and turn it into the biggest blessing. He is a loving God who desires most of all for us to have a daily relationship with Him. The foremost way to be in relationship with God is through prayer. Prayer is simply a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God.  For me, keeping a journal is a way for me to track how my relationship with God is evolving and how He is answering my prayers.  So I encourage you to begin journal writing. Write down your prayers. Track your prayers. Watch how our amazing God answers our prayers in ways only He can imagine!

P.S. A couple weeks after Clark began his new position I receive notification that my National Board Certification was successfully renewed and my $10,000 salary supplement will be reinstated soon! PRAISE GOD!

#WorshipWithUs

Let Us Pray By: Steven Curtis Chapman
#Prayer  #FaithandHope By: Julie Wicker

Father,

As I approach your throne with confidence Heb 4:16, remind me that even though a situation may seem hopeless, you put breath into the dry bones of the valley and they came to life Ezec 37: 1-14. You are my Alpha and my Omega, who is, who was, and who is to come. You are my almighty Rev 1:8. Just as the rain comes down and makes the earth produce our harvest so does your word fill me up and will not return to you empty Isa 55: 10-11. May I always remember to pray in rough times and sing your praise in times of joy James 5:13. I know that you will work everything together for those of us that love you Ro 8:28. For faith is being sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see Heb 11:11. You make my steps firm as you delight in my walk. Although I may stumble, I will not fail, for you uphold me with your hands Psalm 37:23-24

In the name of Jesus

Amen