At the Special Abilities Christmas Shoppe, our prayer team offered prayer for individuals and families bearing lovingly wrapped gifts. We prayed for healing of bodies and broken relationships. We prayed over lost jobs and hoped-for employment. We prayed for the peace of Christ to fill anxious souls and for His presence to fill the aching absence of missing loved ones.

While praying for a woman a thought came to me that, if I were going to put it into words, sounded like what Jesus said to His disciples’ commissioning at the end of Matthew’s Gospel. After we prayed, I said, “There’s something I need to tell you. Think about what we have just done. We have come into the presence of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ and asked Him for His help in your life, right?” The woman nodded. “And we believe He has heard us, right?” Again, she nodded her head. “You know what this means?” Her eyes were questioning. “It means you now have something you must do. You must watch for His answer. There’s no way to know exactly how He’ll respond. All we can know for sure is that He will answer. It might be a conversation you’ll have; it could be a person you meet; you might have an idea come to your mind that leads to new thinking. He is free to answer our prayer any way He wants! Will you watch for His answer?” She nodded with a smile. 

Whatever your struggle, fear, or worry, however impossible the situation seems, as you lift your cries for help, He has promised to be with you. The apostle Paul wrote, “But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit since the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Romans 8:9). This means that after we pray, we must learn to practice “noticing” His gentle power at work to answer our needs. Over time it is clear: the more you notice, the MORE you notice! 

Loving Lord, You know me. You are very close. Help me. Thank You for hearing me. Help me notice You moving in every moment of my life today.