I decided to journal this the other day when I was asked this great question of how I prepare for things as surgeries come and go over the years. I pray it will be an encouragement to you as it has been to me, but this is how I visualize as I pray and it sure seems to help me as I go along my way and face things one at a time.
The Pathway of Prayer for me kind of flows from Isaiah 35:8 which says: “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness, The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.”
Okay, so the highway part for me has translated into a pathway, a road that is laid out by prayer - a bridge to holiness. His holiness, by His power, His Spirit by His might.
The journey to face what lies ahead for many of us can be frightening as we deal with medical issues. There are many unknowns, many what ifs and many possible casualties. The giants in the lands are real case scenarios that terrifies a mother’s heart and tears at the fabric of a father’s soul. What can be done to protect the innocence of a child whose frail little body knows nothing but tender love, the desire to go out and play and investigate the world out there and snuggle inside the home he knows that is safe and secure?
The journey that we face needs a pathway that has a plan and a road that is smoothed out by prayer, otherwise the road would be too treacherous to cross. This is where our prayers begin to do the work. The prayer work goes forth and we first must lay claim of all that is dear and precious to our heart. We secure our loved ones and hold fast to the Promises of Our Father God in Heaven above and His Holy Word and His Nature, His very Attributes. Then we fight the good fight and do the battle with our Armor on. Most importantly, we praise the God of the Armor for praise is the weapon of our warfare and all the while as we pray and fight and praise, the pathway of prayer is being laid and the ground is being made smooth so we can walk when the time to go forth is come. Do you see the picture?
I face all my worst fears as I battle. I allow the tears to come as the fears and the scenes flash in front of me, the torments and the dreams haunt me at times but I let them come and as I do, they show me how to pray. I know how to apply Scripture verses for what may lie ahead in the days to come. Then I do the the faith thing, I praise Him for the miracles that may come, envisioning all the beautiful works that He is able to do and imagine all the good that He can bring by the healing power of His hands and picture those as well. I let those rest in my heart and my mind as well and let those become a part of my dreams. I allow His peace to wash over me and this settles over me about as heavy as a blanket or a down comforter. I feel His divine peace the rest of the way, the journey is covered in peace and grace. The journey is perceived as part of His plan all for good and not for evil, for He knows the plans He has for me/for us as a family and He is going to use it for His glory. He even knows about the divine appointments He has already set up in place along the way. I rest in Him, I take comfort in Him, I abide in Him. I take cover in Him, I hide in Him, I take shelter in the shadow of His wings. I love the shadow of His wings for nothing can harm me.
This is the pathway of prayer that I have prepared over and over again for each and every circumstance that we face over the years, the past 21 years of our lives. It works for me and it gives me peace. I cannot do anything without Him and I cannot live without His peace.
Passionately His,
Carrie
March 5, 2007