Happy New Year...
To get to where I am today, I have to review how I got here. God moved through a series of events that lead me to this point. He has my attention and I am curious about where He is leading.....
Sometime in mid-2011 Northview Christian Church held a Wednesday Prayer Walk through a neighborhood nearby the church and the High School Youth group went along. I couldn't or didn't attend. Afterwards it was wonderful to hear the stories that resulted and the impact.
Following that event, Andie decided to host a Prayer Walk through our neighborhood, with our house as the gathering place and me as the only confirmed leader..... OK, well this changes things just a bit. The night was moving and left it's mark on my heart, but I wasn't really sure what it meant for me or what the impact was.
God had moved in my heart that evening. My Spirit was mindful following that night.
Sometime late in the fall we were in our Sunday morning class and an impactful story was shared. A couple had been out to dinner, their waitress served their food and asked if they needed anything else before she left them to enjoy their food. They responded with "we were about to pray over our dinner do you have any concerns that we could pray for on behalf of you?" She responded.''
At the time I knew God had again moved in my Spirit when that story was shared. But I didn't know where God was leading me. The story and the prayer walk experience were never too far back in my thoughts.
I knew the High School students had more prayer walks planned for spring and I would jump at the chance to participate. That being said I didn't focus on that thought too much. But the dinner prayer kept popping up.
Finally "I" resolved to make prayer before meals at restaurants and include the wait staff a priority for 2012.
Prayerfully I returned this thought to God to see what He would say.
Over the next several weeks, God transformed my thought into His challenge to grow me closer to Him as I begin 2012..... that's my God!!
I realized that the restaurant prayer experience was very similar to the prayer walk, the only difference was the location change. Instead of visiting a person at their house it was their place of work.
I kind of camped on this thought for a little while. But God wasn't done yet. Praying before meals is taking a new priority. Treating prayer before meals at restaurants as a prayer walk is definitely something new..... but God wants more.......
For 2012 God wants my life to be a Prayer Walk. To walk mindfully through each day of those He is placing in my path, always in mindful state of prayer and prepared to be His hands and feet to pray for those I meet.
Life as a prayer walk. Dear Father I am excited and a little bit nervous. The nervousness only comes from unfamiliarity, the unknown. But I am sooooo excited to follow where You lead. With the verse you placed in my path to guide 2012 I know You hold the plan and have prepared the way for each day. Father I ask for your strength, courage and clarity. Father lead me with Your compassion and Love for those you bring my way. It my heart's desire to faithfully follow where You lead. I love You Father. I pray my heart is willing and obedient..... to serve You well that You may reach those around me and be glorified, that is my prayer! In Christ Jesus, I come and lay this prayer at Your feet which will guide me into 2012. Amen.
