When Your Prayers Change

In the last few months my prayers have changed.

Granted, we had our share of challenges, but I wondered, is this ALL that God had for my role in His story? I never settled on a yes, so I did what I normally do. I read books, searched for information, and prayed.

I read a book that created a compelling reason to live a good story–you know the kind–the ones we read about or watch movies about which are often characterized by risk, loss, challenge, life or death situations and sacrifice.

At the end of the book, I realized this was the missing piece: I wanted to live a good story and I didn’t feel like I was.

I started to pray, “God, I want to live a good story. I want to be available to you and be used in the bigger story that you are telling.” For a while, I just prayed that same thing over and over throughout my days and nights, wondering and thinking.

Then God started answering.

He began opening my eyes to His story, the one where he commands us to “look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Did you know that’s a command?

I didn’t.

It’s one that I learned to view through a different lens after reading Katie Davis’ story, because I know I can do more.

Through reading Katie’s story on her blog and in her book, I was moved to action for the first time.

Caring for orphans can take on many different forms: prayer, sponsorship, financial support for another family who is willing and excited to adopt a child, and of course, adopting a child into your family, which I HIGHLY recommend.

Sometimes I get caught up in the logistics. By nature I’m a planner, but God is SO much bigger than my plans. You would think that after two babies in six months I would know that!?!? But I quickly forget and God patiently reminds me over and over that HE is writing this story.

I get stuck in the “what ifs” and “how” of a situation.

Then I see the pictures of the orphans with hollow eyes and tattered filthy clothes and suddenly my fears melt away, and the Lord draws me back into His story, where details don’t matter because kids need a home.

Photo taken from amazima.org with permission.

They need to know what love is so that they can learn the name of Jesus. And I think, just maybe, I am the one who is supposed to tell them about Jesus and show them HIS love.

How is God calling you to care for orphans?

Pray for an opportunity that you can say yes to right now. You won’t regret it!