Reaching Up To Heaven!

At the store the other day, I noticed a small child with both hands raised up to his mom wanting to be picked up. I thought at that time...how sweet!

The next morning, I was doing my morning devotion when I received an e-mail about a friend who had fell and broke her hip. This fall only coming after a couple of months after her husband passed away.

Then, I received another e-mail from a friend who told me about a childhood friend we both knew had passed away. Only two months after she had lost her daughter due to a car wreck. My heart went out to the husband/father.

Then, I had the opporunity to read the book "Parting Waters", by Jeanne Damoff. It was a true story about how their son had drowned, brought back to life by CPR, and told he would never walk, talk, or eat again.

As I was praying, I stopped and asked God how should I pray? Should I pray that they would be delivered from their troubles--or their troubles will go away? Or should I pray for courage to carry on though the difficulties that belabor them?

Romans 8:26: "The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses". God's Spirit is joined to ours when we pray. He intercedes for us "with groanings which cannot be uttered." he is touched by our troubles; He signs often as He prays. He cares for us deeply--more than we care for ourselves. Best part is, He prays 'according to the will of God" (v.27). He knows the right words to say.

Therefore, I needn't worry about getting my request exactly right. I need only to hunger for God and to reach up knowing that He cares!

"O God, too weak and worn for words, I shrink

From trials that deeply wound, and yet to think

Your Holy Spirit helps me as I pray

And gives a voice to what I cannot say! --Gustafson