I haven't posted in quite a while. On the very first day that Roots was to meet, my computer died. Coincidence? I think not. I am back up and running now after losing everything on my hard drive. The up-side? Well, my computer isn't cluttered (*tear).
Anyway, that is not the reason that I write today. Today, I need to share a phrase that just came to me as I was thinking about my faith in God. I think it will transform the way I pray and the way I look at life.
Let me start by saying, life has not been particularly easy lately. I'm starting to realize the magnitude to which the enemy will attack as I try to live a calling. One thing I've noticed: If the enemy can't send people to attack and hurt you, he will just do it himself. His very favorite recipe of attack toward me - worry, anxiety, and hopelessness. He kicks in 2 parts "what if you've gotten this all wrong?" - 1 part "what will people think of you?" - 3 parts "this might never get any better." Voila! Amy face down on her bed sobbing. Satan - 1, Amy - 0.
Well, I might have just learned the counter attack. It is one simple phrase, actually, two little words - "Even This." This is how I should pray and think and approach every obstacle. God can handle EVEN THIS. He can heal EVEN THIS broken body. Jesus can transform EVEN THIS child. The Lord God, King of Kings, can repair EVEN THIS marriage. God's Word can reach EVEN THIS nation. And, Amy, you can pray EVEN THIS and not be afraid.
I have hit some pretty low, lows lately. I heard a song yesterday that breathed new life into me. I've heard it many times, but I guess it was lost on me until then. It's called "Break Every Chain" and the chorus is
"There is power in the name of Jesus.
There is power in the name of Jesus.
There is power in the name of Jesus...
to break every chain,
to break every chain,
to break every chain."
It was while I was singing this song that I realized that this "power" "to break every chain" is not limited by how many times the enemy attacks or how hard he hits. My God, My Jesus, can break every chain - EVEN THIS one. So, this is how I will pray: I will pray with boldness, praying for things that I was too scared to pray for; I will hold my head high through the storm; I will wait on the Lord - if it takes days or even years to see His will done, because He will come through for me. Even in this.
