When You Can’t Find the Words

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26 (NIV)

When my daughter Leigh was 2 years old, she talked nonstop. At least, I guess it was talking. She would point and jabber and put her hands on her hips and swing her arms around, trying in vain to tell her dad and me what she wanted.

We could not understand a thing she was trying to say . . . but big brother Tyler, who was 4, was an amazing interpreter for Leigh.

She would throw syllables together, look at him and he would translate “Your baby is hungry” or “Your baby wants to go outside” or “Your baby can’t find Kasheen Heidi Riegel” (her doll) and she would turn to us with a “Yes!” smile on her face.

Although Leigh was unable to put into words exactly what she wanted to say, she had a big brother who was able to speak on her behalf to share with Dad and Mom what the need was at that moment.

Just as my daughter struggled with communicating her needs, we often do not know how to express our needs as we go before the Lord in prayer. Our Father knew there would be those times when that would happen so in His love He gave us a helper – the Holy Spirit – to speak on our behalf “with groans that words cannot express.”

The Holy Spirit, who lives in each of us, knows us intimately. He knows our weaknesses and our failings and He longs to come along side us and take our requests to the Father. And because they are always in complete harmony and agreement, the groaning of the Spirit makes perfect sense to the Father.

            So tell me, what are you struggling with in prayer? Are you facing grief that is taking your breath away or heartache that is pulling you under? Are you facing a crisis situation and you just don’t know what to do?

May I suggest asking the Holy Spirit to go before the Father on your behalf? He knows your needs, He knows YOU, and He longs to speak to Abba – your Daddy – what you want to share but cannot form into words.

My son was a fantastic interpreter for his sister but that pales in comparison to the interceding that the Holy Spirit does for us . . . when we can’t find the words.

Father, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to come along side me when my heartache is huge and my words are few and speaking to you for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you experienced a prayer time when you absolutely had no idea what to pray?

• Did you ask the Spirit to intercede on your behalf? Why or why not?

Apply

• Write Romans 8:26 at the top of your list of prayer requests.

• As you lift up each request, ask the Spirit to intercede for you and journal those thoughts that come into your heart.

Power

• Romans 8:26 (NIV) “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

• Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

• John 14:16-17 (NIV) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth . . .”

When God Has a Detour

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord,

endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands.”

Psalm 138:8 (NIV)

It took me a few minutes to calm my shaking fingers and get my courage up to open the email. It was from a children’s editor with a very well-known publishing company and I knew she was responding to my proposal on my latest children’s book, a rhyming story about creation.

I had retired from a job I loved because I felt the Lord nudging me to speak and write full time. This book being published would be a huge confirmation of that nudging.

I opened the email to find that yes, the editor loved the book. And yes, it had made it through the submissions and editorial meetings! Now it was on to the sales team.

“Thank You, Lord! Thank you so much!” I shouted the praise in my office. This was definitely a door opening for my passion for writing. I dared to dream big: traveling, television interviews, promoting this book plus my other writings, praising the Lord for what He was doing through each word.

I hate to fly but I imagined myself jetting to New York or L.A. to do interviews about “small town girl writes for a big God.” I was so sure of the outcome that I even shared my news with a couple of my closest friends.

A week went by followed by another and another. No emails with a contract attached. And yet I was not really discouraged because I knew this journey was being directed by the Lord. The book would be published, I was sure.

And then an email. From the editor. She loved the book and how the story was presented, she said. But the sales team had decided not to publish it. Thanks but no thanks.

I read and re-read the email. Maybe I missed something when I read it so hurriedly. But no. It was a polite but firm “no thank you.”

Wait a minute, God! I’ve known for years that this is the path you have wanted for me – writing and speaking. I am sure of it – 100% sure. And yet the answer is no?

Have you been there? You knew that you were doing exactly what the Lord had directed you to do. No doubts. No second guessing. And then the path is blocked, the gate is locked, the door is slammed shut. And you start to wonder if you heard Him correctly when you prayed. What in the world?

I love the encouragement David shares in Psalm 138:8. I have no idea what was going on in his life as he wrote those words, but I love his confidence in knowing that (1) God had a purpose for him; (2) God would fulfill that purpose; and (3) God’s love for David was eternal.

I have no WOW answers, my friends. Only a belief and trust in a Father whose timing is not mine, but who fully intends to fulfill His purpose for me when – and only when – He is ready.

Can you relate? You prayed about the new job that suddenly falls through, the relationship that falls apart, and the bottom falls out of your world. Answers do not come as you were confident they would. As you felt the Lord was directing. And you are wondering why.

I understand that questioning. And yet, just because that part of our plans didn’t work out does not mean that God is not in control or that we are wrong about His plans for us.

Perhaps there are other people the Lord is working on with your plan. There may be a lesson we need to learn about trusting Him through the detours in our lives.

There will temporary or permanent detours in our journey with the Lord. But His purpose stands firm. He will fulfill His work in our lives – even when we don’t understand. Trust the One whose love for us endures forever – even in detours.

Father, I’m not sure why your direction for my life has taken a turn totally opposite from how I felt you were directing. But I trust you to complete your plan in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever felt the Lord directing you specifically and yet, when you followed His direction, things turned out completely different than you thought?

Apply

• Journal the plans in your life that you were sure came from the Lord but did not work out as you had thought. Next journal how they actually turned out.
• Write down the blessings and lessons you learned in the detours. Thank the Lord for His faithfulness.

Power

• Psalm 138:8 (NIV) “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands.”

• Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

• Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

• Philippians 1:6 (NIV) “. . . being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

• Psalm 27:14 (NIV) “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Preparing for the Second Attack

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8 (NIV)

                The volleyball game was intense, with every spike, every serve extremely important. This match would determine which team would play for the championship. Players yelled “mine” or “I’ve got it” or “help” on both sides of the net. Teamwork had to be 100% or failure would be certain. No one – not one team member – could be a “weak link” and watch the volleys instead of playing the game.

Each coach watched the opposing team to see if one of the players was not totally focused on the game. If they saw it, they were quick to have their players hit the ball directly at the one who wasn’t paying attention and catch them off guard.

                My granddaughter was involved in such a game. She and her teammates had won the first game of the match but the second game – the deciding game – was even harder than the first. Each girl repeatedly dug out balls that were almost hitting the ground and returned them  across to the other team as hard as they could, hoping they would not be returned but ready to attack again if they were.

                Ella and her team were able to pull out the win and the match but after the victory she went to her grandpa with a big question on her mind. “Papa,” she asked, “why was it so much harder to win the second game than the first one? We knew we could beat them because we already had. But the second win was so much harder.”

                “You made them even hungrier for the second game, Ella, because you beat them the first time,” he answered.  “They had nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing even harder. So you can’t play with the same intensity the second game like you did the first. You have to step it up and play with even MORE intensity the second time. Because your opponent will, too.”

                I couldn’t help but apply that same logic and wisdom to my life. For example, I remember a specific time when I was tempted to gossip but instead replaced negative comments with positive.  And yet within hours of praising the Lord for that victory, I was confronted with gossip about me that was both untrue and extremely hurtful.  I felt blindsided and confused and responded with angry words and accusations instead of calm and reason.

                What had just happened? I had won the first game of the match. I had turned from doing something that God hates – gossip – and instead tried to be a positive Christian influence. And with that win, I had let down my guard. I had forgotten to be ready for the second game and the intensity of the opposing team: Satan.

We can never forget that Satan doesn’t give up when we have a victory in the name of Jesus. He simply takes a step back and waits for us to be complacent. Then he regroups and attacks again with even more intensity and hate than he did the first time.

We aren’t in a volleyball game in order to win and receive a medal as the goal. We are in a war with Satan and the goal is to share Jesus so we can all spend eternity with Him.  Never be surprised by a second, more intense attack.  Be ready to bring on the intensity of the Creator of the Universe for the win, game and match.

Father, please help me to never give up in our fight to share Jesus with the world. Give me strength and courage to fight with more intensity every single day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

·         Have you ever experienced victory in a spiritual area of your life, only to be attacked again even harder in that same area? Were you prepared for the second attack?

Apply

·         Write the Power Scriptures on note cards. Place them around your home, where you work and in your car.

·         Do not be surprised when you are attacked even more strongly than before by Satan. Study the Power Scriptures and be prepared to stand firm.

Power

·         Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV) “For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

·         I Peter 5:8 (NIV) “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

·         II Corinthians 10:4 (NIV) “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

               

                 

The Superglue of Love

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

When I made the choice to become serious in my writing career, my good friend Sherri gave me a reminder of that decision: a card holder for my desk with the dog Snoopy from Charlie Brown sitting on a patch of green grass in front of a yellow typewriter. Beside him is an envelope with a clip attached to the top of a tiny five-inch metal pole to hold my business card.

Whenever I get discouraged or unable to think of my next topic to write on, all I have to do is to look at Snoopy and be reminded of the prayers that went into my decision to write and I am revived instantly.

A few years ago I was at that exact point: the ideas were not flowing and I could feel frustration building up so I glanced at my little dog and his typewriter. I couldn’t help my “Oh no!” as I instantly saw that Snoopy had no head!

Arms and body, yes. Typewriter still in place, yes also. But no head! Frantically I moved papers and files and found the head on its side. I was afraid that it could not be fixed but ten minutes and half a superglue tube later, the head was reattached. Thankfully the broken damage was repaired.

Do you ever feel like you are broken and damaged in such a way that the Lord cannot fix you – nor would He want to?

There is absolutely nothing that we can do that will cause Jesus to say “This one is permanently broken. There’s no way to fix her so I will toss her out.”

“But wait,” you tell me. “I stole some money” or “I had an abortion” or “I had an affair.” And you think “Surely the Lord can’t forgive me. Surely He sees the damage and cannot fix me. Why would He want anything to do with me?”

Look at our promise in Romans 8:38-39. Nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of our Father. Read this Scripture aloud but in place of “nor anything else in all creation,” speak the sin in your life.

His love is real; His forgiveness is real. We read in I John 1:9 that when we confess our sins to Him, He takes those fragile, fractured pieces of our lives and He heals every break with a “superglue” of love.

Father, I confess sin in my life that I have allowed to keep me from you. Thank you for forgiving me and healing my broken life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like you have done something in your life so terrible that God could not possibly forgive you?

• Did you share your concern with a Christian friend and ask her to pray for you?

Apply

• Make a list of the things in your life that you have felt Jesus could not or would not extend forgiveness to you.

• Read Romans 8:38-39 aloud and speak each entry on your list in that Scripture. Ask the Lord to forgive you, accept His forgiveness and love, and then tear the list into pieces and throw it away.

Power

• Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• I John 1:9 (NIV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

• Romans 8:1 (NIV) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus . . .”

Jerry’s Christmas

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You

will find a baby wrapped in clothes

and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:11-12 (NIV)

I’ll never forget that precious little boy: freckles scattered like tiny raindrops across his entire face, including his ears. Big brown eyes partially obscured by long, wispy blonde hair that brushed against an ever present smile minus two front teeth.

Jerry was a first grade student at the elementary school where I worked. He came from a home that was short on money but long on love. His clothes were always someone else’s property first, but he never seemed to care.

And this Christmas season was no different.

As a mother of three, I was frantically trying to balance home, husband, kids and job while I shopped endlessly for the perfect “only thing I want” gifts for my family. Somewhere in the rush of the season my focus shifted from the birth of a baby in a manger to the number of presents under our Christmas tree.

There was some success but at a price . . . a high price. My Christmas budget was shrinking rapidly. “Why couldn’t my children want something a little cheaper?” I kept thinking. “Why do they think they have to have every thing they see on television?”

Those questions were occupying my thoughts as I walked down the first grade hall and saw Jerry skipping toward me in his winter coat that was about three sizes too large and worn tennis shoes minus the laces.

“Hey, Jerry! How are you?” I asked. “I’m good, Miss Nancy. It’s almost Christmas . . . Jesus’ birthday . . . did you know?” I couldn’t help but smile at that comment. “Yes, I have heard that. So what do you want for Christmas, Jerry?”

He quickly replied “Oh, I already know what I’m getting. It’s the same every year.”

At this point I would have expected a child making that statement to duck his head in disappointment and go on, but not Jerry.

As I bent down to hug and encourage him, Jerry put his hands on my shoulders and, with a huge smile, continued: “When I wake up on Christmas morning, there will be a BIG candy cane under my pillow!” as he licked his lips and rubbed his tummy in anticipation of that moment. “And then, under the tree, I’ll get a little Matchbox car to add to my others. I can hardly wait, Miss Nancy!”

As I hugged Jerry and sent him on to class, I could not hold back the tears of sadness – not for Jerry but for my attitude. Instead of focusing on Christ and His birth, I had gotten caught up in the world’s view that the number of gifts you have under the Christmas tree determines your happiness.

Christmas at our home would never be the same again. All because of a candy cane under a pillow, a Matchbox car under a tree . . . and a very thankful little boy named Jerry.

Father, thank you for the most priceless gift of love you could ever send – the gift of your Son.  May we never forget that He went from a manger to the cross for us.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Do you find yourself focused more on gifts than the Giver of Life at Christmas?

• Have you talked with your children about the Ultimate Gift that Jesus gave each of us?

Application

• Sit down with your children and help them write on slips of paper the gifts that they can give Jesus this Christmas, like trusting Him, being obedient, and sharing Him with friends.

• Have them wrap each of their gifts for Jesus in a box and offer each one to Him on Christmas morning in prayer.

Power Verses

• Luke 2:11-12 (NIV) “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.” 

• Romans 6:23 (NIV) “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV) “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

• John 1:14 a (NIV) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

• Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Ignoring My Security Alarm System

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

                After years of decorating the outside of my house for Christmas – and then having to bring everything back inside weeks later in the freezing weather – I wisely realized that less can be better.

 Translation: instead of multiple lights on my house, porch railing and shrubs, I instead placed a small, artificial tree on each side of my front door. And with even more wisdom, I put two strings of led battery operated lights on each tree! I programmed them to turn on at 6 pm each evening and turn off six hours later.

Can I just share that I was feeling pretty proud of myself? Oh I was. Because now, instead of going outside and freezing, just to turn on and off the Christmas lights, I could simply wait and watch as that happened automatically. It was a great idea but I had not counted on one thing: mischievous boys.

One evening about 8 pm, I realized my tree lights had not come on. When I went outside to check them, I saw why. Someone had turned off all the lights on all four sets!  I found myself wondering who in the world could have done something like that.

Suddenly I remembered that I had a security system! And one of the cameras was on the front porch, aimed right at the door and trees! But just as suddenly I remembered something else. When I woke up the morning after the lights were turned off, I noticed that I had received several notifications during the night of movement around my home.

But I had assumed, wrongly, that it was because the trash trucks were driving through the neighborhood and so I had – without even looking – deleted ALL the notifications I had received! If only I had simply stopped and checked I would have seen exactly who turned off the lights.

Today’s Scripture from Matthew 26:41 is simple, practical advice to us. It’s a security alarm system for our lives. “Watch and pray.” Why? “So that you will not fall into temptation.” In other words, the Lord is telling us “Wake up, child! Keep your eyes open. Things are going to come your way – evil things. Things that will try to pull you away from Me. You are not strong but I am and I will protect you. So listen to me and to my Word.”

We have the Holy Spirit living in us. He is part of our security alarm system. He nudges us to warn us when we are headed in the wrong direction or toward the wrong thing. Maybe it’s a flirting relationship but we are married. Perhaps it is watching movies or stories on the internet that are far from what God wants for us in our lives. Satan knows our weaknesses and he will attack each of us in our weak areas.

We have been blessed with a Security Alarm System from the Lord so use it! Consult it! Don’t ignore the protection it gives you! Remember it’s warning to watch and pray. Don’t ignore the nudging that tells you to run from whatever your weakness may be. Don’t glance back. Don’t long for what you know is wrong. But instead run! The Lord will be at your side. He will never leave you.

As for my Christmas lights, I found out from my neighbor that the night they were turned off, he had seen two boys walking through a yard toward my home. But what they don’t realize is that if there is a next time, I will be sure not to ignore my security alarm system.

Father, you have placed your word in our lives to keep us from turning to sin and away from you. Please continue to nudge me in my Spirit to follow you and to always watch and pray. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

·         Can you think of a time when you ignored the nudging of the Holy Spirit to turn away from something that you should not be doing or saying? Did you regret your decision?

Apply

·         Write “Security Alarm System: Holy Spirit” on note cards and place them by your TV, computer, on your desk at work and any other place that you may be tempted.

·         Memorize Matthew 26:41 and ask the Lord to help you to stay alert to His security alarm system for your life. And pray.

Power

·         Matthew 26:41 (NIV) “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

·         Hebrews 2:1 (NIV) “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

·         I Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Early in the Morning

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my

requests before you and wait in expectation.”

Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

When my children were small, I had absolutely no time to myself. From the moment they woke up until they fell asleep at night I heard “Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom” from three kids ages 5, 3 and almost 1. There is an old saying that having children is like being pecked to death by a chicken. Mercy.

I could not even take a bath without three little ones watching me and asking for a sandwich, a puppy, a drink of water or another brother.

My prayers consisted of “Lord give me strength – and patience – and more of both!” as I made sandwiches and fed the puppy and got each one a drink and explained why they were not getting another brother. There did not seem to be one minute, much less 30, that I could spend reading my Bible and in prayer.

Until one day when I was whining to the Lord that I just couldn’t fit time with Him into my “busy” schedule and He suggested to my heart the unthinkable: get up at 5 a.m. every morning for quiet time with Him. What?! Are you kidding me?

However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized He was right. If I was going to have any time alone with the Lord, it would have to be early in the morning, before anyone was awake.

Can I be honest with you? The first week I got up with an attitude. “This had better be good,” I would mumble to the Lord. Then I would make a cup of hot tea, grab my Bible, pen and paper and curl up on our sofa in the living room. And wait on the Lord. And wait. And then, in the quiet of the morning, something happened.

I began to sense that the Lord was waiting on me. I was physically up early each morning to be with Him but spiritually I was still asleep. So I flipped my Bible open to Psalms and it fell on chapter 5, verse 3: “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

Not only was the Lord waiting to hear my voice but He wanted to hear what my day was all about! Just as David had done countless times, I too should have been starting my day by sharing with God everything going on in my life and then quietly waiting on His answers. I was too busy grouching about getting up early to meet the Creator of the Universe! Shame on me.

Now I truly know that we can’t all get up at 5 a.m. to spend time with the Lord. Different jobs and hours can make that almost impossible. But I would encourage each of you to begin your day – whether it’s at 11 p.m. or 3 a.m. or 5 a.m. – by talking with the King of Kings. Share what is on your mind, lay your requests before Him, and allow Him to speak to your heart.

The problems you face before your prayer time may still be there after you talk with the Lord. But you will have strength and courage to face each one just by knowing He listens and answers – early in the morning.

Father, forgive me for making excuses for not seeking your face before my day begins. I know how much more smoothly everything goes when I begin my day with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• What are some of the excuses you have made for not spending time with the Lord before your day begins?

Apply

• For one week, set your alarm and get up 15 minutes early to meet with the Lord. Make a list of activities and possible problems for each day and lay them down at the Cross. Consider increasing your time with the Lord to 30 minutes.

• Ask God to speak to your heart. Journal His answers and thank Him for His faithfulness. Consider setting aside time for the Lord as your #1 priority.

Power

• Psalm 5:3 (NIV) “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

• Mark 1:35 (NIV) “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

• Psalm 63:1 (NIV) “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”