My phone vibrated next to me as I sat on the couch working on my emails for the day. I glanced down and quickly went back to work on decluttering my inbox, which is a neverending battle. Being a one phone family, I rarely answer my phone unless I know who is calling. I let the call run its course and know if it’s someone who needs to get in touch with me, a voicemail will soon follow. Thirty seconds later a voicemail notification popped up. A quick prayer crossed my lips.
A minute later, I paused the decluttering and listened to the voicemail. As I began to listen, I heard mortgage and escrow in the same sentence. If you know me at all, you can imagine how my heart dropped to the floor. My dad was my “go to” financial guy and with him not around, I realized that all the lessons I half listened to about finances over the years might come in handy now. I returned the call.
Before you hear the rest of the story, here’s what was happening in the background.
Prayer
Sometimes, I don’t realize I’m praying, but somehow a quick prayer comes out as I exhale. God teaches us how to say these quick breath prayers in moments we face uncertainty.
They are as simple as “Lord, I need you”, “Thank you for this day” or “Guide my words”. The length of an exhale.
Prayer is a conversation with God. There are no rules or guidelines. Just call upon His name and thank Him for all He is going to do.
For years, I prayed in my head. The thought of saying my prayer out loud terrified me. I heard the prayers of others and dwelled on the lie that my prayers would never sound as good as their prayers.
Time and leaping out in faith led me to where I am now. A woman willing to pray for others as the need arises. God is so good.
[Tweet “God is a God of possibilities and beautiful blessings! “]
I shared last week that …Prayer is not only a spiritual discipline but also a spiritual privilege. When I am tempted to check it off my daily “to do” list, I need to pause and know the truth of what a gift it is to pray.
Praying for others is an honor, but there are times we pause in the middle of a voicemail because our heart begins to feel anxious and God is the creator of peace. In the pause, we pray and ask the One to calm the fluttering.
Even when you only have time to exhale, remember that…
God hears our prayers.
He said to Solomon…
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. 2 Chronicles 7:12
Prayer helps us to draw near to God.
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:7-8
God answers our prayers.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22
As I hung up the phone that day, I felt peace. The words mortgage and escrow did not send me into a tailspin. I immediately outlined, in my mind, my next steps. The following morning as I was on my way to Bible Study Fellowship, my phone rang. I recognized the number, answered and sat in my car amazed. What could have ended as a challenge instead became a blessing. Yay God!
One quick breath prayer. Drawing close to the One who hears our prayers. And trusting in our big God led to freedom rather than a meltdown. God is a God of possibilities and beautiful blessings!
Blessings on your week!
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Hi, thank you very much for sharing this! In fact, prayer is not just a spiritual discipline, but a spiritual privilege as well. Thank you for that, by expressing this kind of prayer, you really have a good heart. A lot of Christians have to learn more about this is a great example of prayers. May God bless you.
Prayer is a beautiful privilege. Thank you for stopping by.
Mary, this is such a beautiful encouragement to keep prayer as simple and natural as breathing. We tend to over-complicate it. I often say those kind of quick breath prayers as I go through my day, seeking guidance or just wanting to reconnect with God, and also during my restless, pain filled nights. I think Ann Lamott had the right idea with her book ‘Help, Thanks, Wow!’ which is a concise summing up of the way most of us need to pray! I’m glad you saw fruit from being faithful to those inner promptings to pray and be present to another. Such blessings give us courage to do it again, don’t they? Blessings and love. xo
I find I do more breath prayers than longer prayers most days. I started as my sons got older and I knew I needed to have a more challenging conversation with one of them. The breath prayers helped me to remember to invite God into the conversation. I have not heard the expression, “help, thanks wow”. But I do know of Anne Lamott. She does have the right idea!
God blessed me with a favorable outcome. Prayer is the perfect way to invite God into a situation, but then we need to be willing to let Him answer in His way and timing. I pray you find prayer to be comforting during your difficult nights. May you always feel God’s presence.
Dear Mary,
Oh, those breath prayers, are becoming even more precious to me. Sometimes it feels like my nights are literally filled up with breath prayers! But like you said, He meets us there just as much as He meets us in the longer and more drawn out prayers. I especially appreciated how you connected your cell phone conversation with your moment to breathe out that prayer. He sees even those rushed moments and is with us then too! Blessings on your week!
I find myself lifting up a breath prayer when I’m with one of my kids before a conversation where I need discernment. Or in moments with others where calling on God to guide my words will allow the conversation to be more grace filled. I can see how breath prayers are perfect at night when sleep is elusive or our mind won’t rest. I am thankful for your presence and insight.
Thank you for sharing this, Mary. I’m so glad it turned out well. God always gives us beyond and above what we ask or think, doesn’t He? Breath prayers are such a part of me. It’s so amazing that God is available 24/7 and like you said, there are no rules in praying to Him. Love and hugs to you!
I love the reminder that God gives us more than we imagine. I needed to hear that today. So glad you stopped by. Your insight blessed me.
As you say, there are many ways of praying, and it can be done at any time. I often say a silent prayer for someone without them knowing; especially when they tell me their troubles.
God bless.
I love your heart for praying for others, Victor. I know our prayers are heard and they do make a difference. Blessed to have you along today!
I’ve caught myself in the past few years spontaneously praying, sometimes out loud, sometimes just under my breath, the words, “Lord, have mercy.”
And He does, even when His mercy doesn’t come to me in a way that looks like mercy at the outset.
So glad your “mortgage”/”escrow” all in the same sentence situation worked out well.
I have been known to pray the “Lord have mercy” prayer on multiple occasions. I agree that God always answers our prayers. We need to be open to how and when He will do this. His timing is always perfect. Thank you for being here and I am blessed that God provided a favorable answer to my prayer.
I’m so glad to read this today, Mary. Prayer is an area I’m focusing on this January-March, and I’ve been going through several prayer devotionals, as well as trying to spend time doing it! I love that God hears our small, simple prayers. (I’m writing a 3 part series on prayer myself, love reading what others have to say.)
I want to tell you that as I was writing this post and last week’s, you were in the forefront of my mind. I think of you when I think about prayer. That’s a good thing! I know you write about prayer and I am hoping that God provides just what you need for your series. I can’t wait to read it.
Mary,
The older I get, the more my prayers are breath prayers…kind of like a continual open line of communication. Sometimes that breath prayer is simply “Jesus” when deep calls to deep. Great insights!
Blessings,
Bev xo
We are told that God is present 24/7 so why don’t we take advantage of that throughout our day. Prayer does not just need to happen first thing in the morning and then forget about it the rest of the day. Praying you see Jesus in every part of your day as we begin this new week.
Beautiful, Mary. Don’t you just love that God is ready and waiting for those breath prayers, those urgent petitions encased in love?
Thanks for sharing your story … and His continued activity in your life, friend. He is so very faithful …
I do love that He is always ready! I am grateful that He makes time for each and everyone of us just when we need it. I am also grateful that He blessed me with a workable financial solution. Blessed by your presence today!
Great reminders here, my friend! Learning to pray without ceasing, those breath-prayers was my #oneword365 focus last year. Focus for a lifetime, really. Love how you laid these truths out for us today! Blessings on your Sabbath!
There is something so special about a one word for the year. Not only does it teach us in a certain area but it deepens our relationship with God. Glad you joined me today!