Red Slip in the Basket

Hear my cry for help, my king, my God!  Psalm 5:3
  
The second Monday evening of the month is a great time slot! That’s a spot in the month when Satan gets really, really ticked off!  This past Monday began the third year of the Daughters of God Faith Series in our area and like the previous two years, more than 100 women gathered to learn, pray and grow closer to God.  I am humbled and honored to be in the company of so many faith-filled women who carve out that time from their busy lives.  I walk in each month with the class carefully prepared and power points created and try to look like I know what I’m doing.  I giggle though because the Holy Spirit doesn’t really care what’s on my laptop or in my notebook.  I just open my mouth and ask Him to take over; and take over He does!  This past Monday night He began our class with something unplanned and amazing.
 
Each month there is a basket in the front of the room on the prayer table.  In front of the basket there are white slips of paper and red slips of paper.  The white slips are for prayer intentions and requests. The red ones are put in the basket if a prayer or petition has been granted or blessed.  The red slips give a great visual for the work God is doing in the lives of his praying faithful.  We pray together over those intentions in the basket during our opening and closing prayer time and women in the audience are asked to remember those intentions throughout the month during their private prayer time. 

Monday night before class, one of the ladies told me a special guest would be joining the class that night.  After the opening prayer, I introduced a beautiful woman who made her way to the front of the class and tenderly placed a red slip in the prayer basket then took the microphone and explained that she had been a white slip in our prayer basket and she wanted to change the slip to red herself.  Turns out, we had been praying for this lovely lady for months as she battled breast cancer.  She had been given a clean bill of health and she wanted to briefly share her story. She assured us that it was the power of prayer  from many people that led to her healing and she wanted to personally thank the women there for their prayerful support.  Amid the tears and cheers we were all touched by the power of the moment. I remember crawling in bed Monday night thinking…wow...thank you Holy Spirit for her brave and touching words…it was a powerful beginning to kick off the new series! I love it when we allow God to be in charge of something and He shows off in an amazing way just because He can!

I have no doubt that God has big plans ahead for this beautiful woman of faith and courage.  I was inspired and motivated by her and I was touched by the power and extreme love of our Father in heaven.  Her strength came from the prayers of others, many she had never met.  It wasn’t hard for us to do, it didn’t take a degree or certification and it certainly didn’t take much time, but the result was monumental! How much time do we spend praying for others by name?  It’s an important way to spend some minutes every day.  If you don’t do it…start.  If you already do it…do more!  Cry out the names of those who need God’s blessing.
 
A seed to plant:  Get a little notebook and make a list of all the people you know of who need prayer. Carry the book with you and when someone asks you for prayer, jot down their name.  Read through your list and ask God to bless those folks each day.  Take note of any of those who have received an answer or a blessing and watch the magnificent ways God is showing Himself in answer to our prayers.
 
Blessings on your day!