12/1/24 GRATEFUL THAT GOD SENT ME A MESSAGE. For about five years, I've had a habit of stopping in the parking lot of the local community college on my way home from work and spending a few minutes praying for the college. I pray for the Gospel to spread there. I pray for Christian clubs to form and take root there. I pray that Christians will connect with each other. I ask that God put Christians together so they can encourage each other and be the light of the Gospel to others.
But my company has sold our office, and I no longer drive past the college on my way home. I thought it was just something I was to do for a season, but the time passed, and I would not continue the practice.
But I met a young man in church, and while getting to know him, I asked him the usual questions like what he did, where he lived, and such. It turned out that he was attending the very community college that I had been praying for. I asked him if he knew about the various clubs and if he knew of any other Christians. He was very excited to say that for some time, he had a lab partner with whom he was working on an assignment that turned out to be a Christian.
I think God sent him to visit my church and have a random conversation with me so that I could learn that my ministry of prayer was effective. I feel that this young man's testimony is God communicating to me to keep praying. I am thankful for the young man's testimony and that God sent him to me. I feel that I have a commission to pray, and I will make a special daily drive to the campus parking lot to continue my prayer practice.
12/2/24 GRATEFUL FOR THE LORD'S PRAYER. Today, I was thankful for the Lord's prayer. It is wonderful that the Lord's prayer teaches us to pray, among other things, to say, "Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil," I'm thankful for the second part of that phrase for a couple of reasons. To begin with, note the plural nature of the Lord's prayer; it doesn't say to lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil; it is us. Of course, the nature of society in Jesus' time was more social and communal and not full of the Western independence of modern man. So, the Lord's Prayer is full of words like our and us. So I can pray the Lord's prayer for me and, more importantly, my community and loved ones. Teaching us to pray for God's protection over our loved ones implies that it is God's intention to do so. That is empowering. So, I am thankful because I can confidently pray, "Father, deliver my kids from evil," and be assured of His watchful care for them. While praying for my kids, I felt incredibly grateful that God was, is, and will be watching over and protecting my kids.
12/6/24 GRATEFUL THAT MY WIFE HAD A GOOD TIME AT THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. A few weeks ago, the organization I work for asked members to attend a Christmas celebration hosted by a partner organization. The invitation included spouses. So, after discussing it with my wife, I sent an RSVP that included both of us. I was afraid that it wouldn't interest her, and she would have to give up her evening to sit around and listen to a bunch of us talk about things she wasn't interested in. I was anxious that she would not have a good time and feel let down.
As we drove to the event, I offered a few silent prayers, asking God to provide her with a good time. There was one couple she knew from before, and we sat at a table together. This couple is vivacious, generous, and outreaching. My wife talked and laughed with them all evening. There was enjoyable entertainment and a humorous time of playing Christmas-themed party games.
I am thankful that God loves my wife and cares for her just like I do; of course, he loves her more.
