Praying Angels

I am having a minor surgery/procedure on Tuesday. It reminds me of a simple, yet powerful truth. People have been praying for me all my life- even when my parents were expecting me- they were praying for me. 

I was so little and no recollection of it, but I am told from the time I was a baby, whenever I had a surgery, there would be a crowd of people from the church in the waiting room while I was in OR praying for me and the medical team operating on me. 

As I got older and could understand what was going on and was so scared and traumatized, the Senior Pastor would meet with me in the pre-surgery room. He would ask me what Bible verses I wanted him to read, and he would read them out loud to me. He would pray for me and tell me how much God loved me, that I was going to be okay, and God had a plan for my life and was going to use me. I haven't had any much contact with this Pastor in years, but I hope and pray that he realizes I will never forget that and that he has made such a huge impact on me. He was there for me before every surgery- no matter how small. He knew I was only a child so any surgery in my eyes was scary and traumatizing. He made me feel so at peace that I never cried going to the OR. I was able to brave and know I was going to just fine! 

When I was 14, I went through a very deep depression with suicidal ideation. Once again, these prayers angels stepped up and prayed for me! I remember one time, I started to have a seizure during church. I walked to the Youth Room where I was free to do what I had to do (remember these are Pseudo Seizures). During this time, one of the youth leaders came in to check on me. She loved me through the seizure, and I don't think she said much to me. She just wanted me to know I was not alone and know she was there for me. When I was still in the Youth Room resting, she got a bunch of people to go into the Prayer Room. She then came back and told me to come to Prayer Room. She said there were people who wanted to pray for me, and the Pastor wanted to anoint me (I was having medical test the next day). 20 years later, I still remember that. I remember my parents there in the Prayer Room waiting for me with everyone else. It was a special moment that moved me to tears. 

When I graduated from college, it was such a humbling experience because I remembered all the people praying for all my life and seeing their prayers answered in such a powerful way- my college graduation! I have no doubt it was their prayers for me even as a baby that led me to that moment! It was not only a testament to my determination but also to those who prayed for me all my life and the God who heard their prayers and answered them.

You will never know the impact that you make on someone's life just by doing little things. Little acts of love, kindness and just praying for someone speaks volumes! I don't think these people can understand how much their prayers mean to me. I know without about their prayers for me continue to do this. I am trying to show you, that what you do matter, what you say matters! You have a value that you may not know you to have to the people in your life! There is something you bring the table that if not for you there would be an irreplaceable void! You matter! You are an angel to someone! 

    

 

Backpack

Last week, I had a meditation on being an overcover. One thing that really stuck out at me, I am going to write about today. 

How many of us have baggage that we carry around daily? These can range from anxiety to depression, financial concerns, jobs, and so much more. 

Towards the end of the meditation, they were talking about backpacks and books. Imagine you are carrying a backpack with lots of books. Now I want you to title the books with the things you are carry daily. For example, if you deal with anxiety- title one of your books "Anxiety." If you have health issues, title one of the books "Health Issues." Whatever you are facing, make a title for it! After you have done this, imagine giving that backpack to Jesus. It will be hard and tempting to not take the backpack from Him but do your best and know that even if you do snatch it back, He will love you anyway and is willing to take it back from you again and again. Just because you take it back, it doesn't mean you have to carry it again. You can keep handing the backpack to Him as often as you need. To be honest, this is something we must practice daily. It is a daily act of surrender.                         

Now, I took this exercise to another level by drawing a backpack in my journal. I titled it "Backpack to Jesus" and drew books, titling that books with the things I carry daily. This helped me really drive the point into my mind. When I find myself batting with the "books", I remember what I drew, and it stops me in my tracks, and I remember I gave it to Jesus. So far, I have noticed a considerable difference. 

We were not meant to shoulder the burdens that we carry. It isn't ours to begin with. It belongs to God. The battle is not ours’s to fight. We live in a society where it is all about self-help. There are so many self-help books that tell you how to "fix things." While some of these books may be helpful, they are only really a band-aid fix to the bigger problem. The thing is we can’t fix things on our owns. The bigger problem is our need to be in control. It is in this control, that we think we find what we are looking for, but it will only lead to a dead-end each time. 

My application for you is to draw your backpack. Draw books in your backpack of things that you carry. On the top of your backpack, write "Backpack to Jesus." When you catch yourself carrying the things in your backpack, remind yourself that you gave the backpack to Jesus. Remember, it is not going to be a one and done decision but is one you will make daily. The more you practice, the easier it will be and the less you must think about doing it!