Lisa Notes: Bigger than my prayer

Bigger than my prayer

God wants to do something bigger
than simply answer my prayers.
PAUL E. MILLER, A Praying Life

Do you ever ask for the same things over and over?

Better sleep and less pain are two of my repetitive prayers. But I wonder, if through my asking—regardless of the answer—is he changing me?

The act of praying draws God into my life
and begins to change me,
the pray-er, in subtle ways.

Is he shaping me through the “no” answer? Or at least the “not yet” one?

Is simply keeping up my end of the conversation doing more than I realize?

I often find that when God
doesn’t answer a prayer,
he wants to expose something in me.

I don’t know the answer yet.
Maybe enough time hasn’t passed.
Maybe I’m still in the middle of something.

Something bigger than the request itself.

Our prayers don’t exist in a world of their own.
We are in dialogue with a personal, divine Spirit
who wants to shape us as much as he wants to hear us.

For now, by faith I’ll keep asking him.
For later, by grace he’ll keep changing me.

Only a God as wise as ours can straighten us out as he untwists our gnarly questions.

I may not sleep again tonight, but as I lie awake, I can talk to him about it.

And as we talk, I’ll rest, knowing he is at work in me.

* * *

Have you seen God change you through your prayers?

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flowingfaith 23p · 707 weeks ago

Great post, Lisa! From the title to the conclusion! May we all rest in Him while He is at work in us! Thank you. Stay blessed!
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RupZip 73p · 707 weeks ago

Prayer does change us....For so long I prayed, hoping the circumstances would change. Sometimes they do, but usually it changes my perspective first and foremost.

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Stacy · 707 weeks ago

I loved this post and especially this: ..."Maybe I’m still in the middle of something. Something bigger than the request itself." Our Abba Father is always faithful...and always desiring to go above and beyond what we could ever hope or imagine. The thought that He is up to something bigger than my request fills my heart with expectation, wonder, and thanksgiving!

WOW! What a perspective! What a God!

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Julie · 707 weeks ago

YES!!!! God has changed me "in the waiting". And in looking back at the Hand of God moving in my life, I see it with a grateful heart...there are two lines from songs that rise up in my my mind..one is "Thank God for unanswered prayers" and the other is "Sometimes God calms the storm, Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child." Those prayers always keep going up because I think of the persistent widow in the New Testament, who wouldnt quit asking...but yes...sometimes God is working in the meantime, and were it NOT for the circumstances, the storm...we would NOT be , by grace, a stronger and more grace filled woman....thank you Lisa...excellent words and questions. love it.

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Grace · 707 weeks ago

Great post and reminder! Our Father has the answers!
My recent post Angels Unaware

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brian miller · 707 weeks ago

i feel you...we can complain the prayers go unanswered and maybe they are just not answered in the way we want them, each is a slow bending like the bonsai tree to the will of the artist

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Trisha · 707 weeks ago

Lisa,
YES! I've found that my prayer life has grown the most in the midst of trials and suffering. AND, I love that the Spirit has worked in my heart to make prayer be the first thing I think of when my head hits the pillow at night. Even on those nights when I can't sleep, I'm learning to spend that time in prayer. Praying for you, too, for better sleep and less pain, my friend.
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Barbara H. 65p · 707 weeks ago

I'm so sorry about the sleeplessness and pain. Is the pain due to a chronic condition I've somehow missed seeing before? I'm glad you're finding grace in the waiting times.
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1 reply · active 706 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

Thanks, Barbara. I have had chronic back pain for several years now. It's not as bad during the day so it doesn't usually affect my activities. It always hurts the most when I lay down. A bummer, but still manageable at this point. Definitely finding grace in this too.
My recent post Five favorites from Romans 8:1-2

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Monica Sharman · 707 weeks ago

Yeah, that always fascinates me---that I pray in a certain direction, and then I find out later that God's intention (His work in ME), was totally different and unexpected (but always eye-opening and bringing me closer to Him).
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Stephani · 707 weeks ago

Thanks for this Lisa. So many difficult prayers these days. Dad moved into his new home at the memory care wing of the senior living community. Mom is still in independent living, but since they are in the same building they can still see each other. I'm trying to keep a journal about my experiences with this at www.findingthefamiliar.blogspot.com. I need to get an update post up there. I'm praying "not my will but thine oh Lord," because I know my prayers may not be in line with what he wants, but I still think it is important to lay my wants and perceived needs at his feet.
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1 reply · active 706 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

You're doing well, Stephani. I keep up with you on your blog. I know you must be so weary but your love for your parents is outweighing that. You are a wonderful example.
My recent post Five favorites from Romans 8:1-2

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Messy Marriage · 707 weeks ago

Love that--"gnarly prayers!" Thanks, Lisa, for such a thought-provoking post. I will ponder it more throughout my day. :)

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Happygirl · 707 weeks ago

I loved this. I do believe prayer is God's way of changing us. It's not us bringing God his "to do" list. I love the way you wrote of this. Can't wait to read more of you. :)

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tinuviel · 707 weeks ago

You have my empathy on the sleep difficulty and back pain. I'm so sorry you have that thorn. You remain in my prayers for healing, but this helps me know to pray for your heart to be open to whatever God wants to give you through the trial, too.

"Only a God as wise as ours can straighten us out as he untwists our gnarly questions." I have a few of those.... Nicely turned phrase!
My recent post By His Wounds...

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imperfect prose · 707 weeks ago

oh, this takes so much faith... to believe he has something better in store, like restoring our relationship with him. thank you for this dear lisa. xo

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HopeUnbroken · 707 weeks ago

what an encouraging read! those are two of my biggest prayers right now, too. and i wait. but in the waiting, i am being refined. and the refining is leaving me in a better place than where i started.
thanks for sharing these words of hope and encouragement.

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bluecottonmemory 55p · 707 weeks ago

The last 2 years, I kept saying, "help me, Father" - and I realized that He was helping me, but the solution had to unfold and it would take time, a journey's time. Then I started praying, "Be with me." And he was!
My recent post Sweet Encouragement & Stolen Change in the Offering

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Connie@raiseyoureyes · 707 weeks ago

"I may not sleep again tonight, but as I lie awake, I can talk to him about it. " I'm learning that if we submit...yield to the wakefulness and the pain He allows, He grants Peace and works wonders through our watchman-in-the-night prayers
My recent post Read the sky…

1 reply · active 706 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

"watchman-in-the-night prayers"
Psalm 130 is special to me. I memorized it with a ladies' class a couple years ago. So thanks for bringing up that phrase and that memory. It encourages me to keep waiting on the Lord.

"My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning."
Psalm 130:6

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