My Prayer Life - Part 9 - "A Son Goes to War"

Part 9:

A few days before Joe left for Viet Nam

God did answer that prayer (previous post) many years later just before Joe went overseas to Viet Nam. I was so troubled and torn up with the thought of sending my boy off to war, maybe to be captured by a ruthless enemy who could break his spirit and cause him to deny Christ, or maybe to lose his life. Mothers have a way of looking on the bad side of things when it comes to her children. I began to pray that the Lord would just let me know about my boy. I was so disturbed and torn up I couldn't think of anything else. One day before he left, I was sitting in my chair reading my Bible. I began to cry and pray, and I raised my hands toward heaven and said, "Lord, Your Word says to lift up holy hands to you, and I lift mine up through the blood of Jesus Christ because that is all the holiness I have. I ask you now to take Joe and keep him, and give me peace in my heart and strength to bear whatever You have for us... In Jesus' Name I pray."...

...and...

the Holy Spirit fell on me in such a mighty way. A peace came flowing over me and it felt like it went from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. I was so happy and relieved! I just praised the Lord! I knew what the scripture meant when it said, "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...." I experienced it there on my knees.


Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "It's a Girl"

My Prayer Life - Part 6 - "Afraid I Would Die"

Part 6:

There were many things the Lord used while we lived in Colorado almost two years to start us growing in the Lord. I was expecting my second child and we were making frequent trips to Texas to see our parents. For some reason, I became afraid I was going to die. Each time we started on these trips I would die a thousand deaths thinking perhaps this trip we would probably have a wreck and I would be killed. A lady I knew, who was expecting her baby a few months before me died after giving birth to her baby and I began to be afraid of delivering my baby. I do not know why it took me so long this time to go to the Lord with this problem, but I suffered through many a trip just knowing, "This will probably be the time."

One day as I could stand it no longer, I fell on my knees before the Lord and said, "Lord, I know that You are my Savior. I know You will take me to heaven when I die, and I know when it is time for You to come for me, You will. I can do nothing about it. I am ready any time you call. Help me not to be afraid." Well, that same peace came to my soul that came the day I came back to the Lord. I got up rejoicing and singing, and I was never afraid of those trips or of my baby being born. Even several years later when I had emergency surgery, I could look back to that experience and remember the calm and peace that came over me that day and not be afraid.

That didn't keep us from asking the Lord each time we went on a trip to watch over us and to give us a safe journey and to thank Him when we did get back safely. I don't think that is a sign of fear, but that we are ever conscious that "today" is the only day the Lord has promised us. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, so rejoice in today and be glad and know that it is God who gives life and Christ who gives it more abundantly.


Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "The Lord Provides"