Answered prayers

The power of prayer is amazing. You can ask for God's grace, and perhaps have a puppy on Christmas morning, ask for God's strength and "punk" Satan,  and you can praise an awesome Lord who loves you enough to give his only Son.
This week I have had prayer answered in so many ways, sometimes it took me a minute to recognize it - others it's came with the ringing of a bell, the doorbell. Just this morning I received a piece of mail that I had to sign for. To be honest, at first I was nervous. Two things come asking for a signature, papers that mean you're in trouble and things of value. Being that I wasn't expecting either, my pessimistic side took over and I assumed the worst. You can imagine my surprise and wonder when I opened the Christmas card to find a gift card for $100 dollars. I was brought to tears, and to awe. You see, my pay hasn't been what I had been counting on. I am in not in need, but there are things that I really wanted to do with the holidays and all just around the corner. I had been praying for God to help me make the decision between two things that I wanted to do, then this arrived and he showed me - Do both he said, go and show my love. Now, I don't know what was in this persons heart when they sent me this. I don't even know who this person is! However, I am thankful to them  - for choosing to give such a gracious gift and I'm thankful for God and they way he works.
Last night in small group, I asked for prayer to help demolish the walls I had built around my heart and invite the true holiday spirit in. To be able to share it with my family, make this Christmas just as special as those past. I want to celebrate the birth of Christ, to stand beside God as a warrior ready to take up arms. To say, "See Satan? You see this, God sent his son to make this world new. GAME.ON". When I look at it from that perspective I feel strong and relentless. When I look at it from the Mommy perspective I feel broken and unfulfilled. It's tough to take myself out of "this world" when my heart aches so...But, this morning I woke up to a cheerful 3 year old ready to take on the day. So, I rested a moment in the sanctuary of prayers from the night before, sat in meditation asking God to open my heart, to let Satan know there is no room for him there - then I got up, put on some fa la la la and had a great day with Chey. Baked cookies, went to a movie, just spent the day being "us." I felt the cheer, my Grinch heart "grew three sizes today." The power of prayer...
Perhaps, the most profound realization came through simple prayer I pray daily, when I chose to listen to wait and seek his voice. I prayed that I get a sign, that my heart is right - that Makenna is in paradise. I've searched for signs from double rainbows to a sparrow propped on a tree - signs that I would "know." Alas, I haven't seen what I desired. You see, I had been looking in the wrong direction, My vision should of been cast to what he intended. So I prayed the usual, then I prayed for my heart. Please lord, prepare my heart to see what you see. I waited, I became hypersensitive to anything that it could be. Then I heard it, on the radio, just a snip about it being "ok" that I find comfort in tomorrow. I truly feel it was something God needed me to hear. For me to understand, the way I grieve is mine and mine alone. A burden he carries with me, and tears he cries - my puddles to his rivers. The peace in that, the peace in God revealing himself to me, and my heart being open in such a crucial time in my life. That I was loved enough by the King of Kings that I was able to feel his power on the floor of a Virginian Hospital - just an hour after I doubted his existence as I fell to my knees on Warbler Court. I prayed, that I see Makenna was okay. God revealed to me, that she was, and now his intent is to guide me into becoming a warrior for him.
It's incredible the everyday miracles that are allowed into your life, when you're sticktoitiveness evolves from stubborn and independent to, giving it up to God. It's equally concerning when you evaluate the power Satan has in you life, when you don't. My armor isn't thick, my sword doesn't even rival the wooden defenses of Micheal and Jon...but it's getting there. Thankfully, it is said that I can do great things. In this battle against Satan, not allowing him to turn good to bad, casting him away with prayer and conviction creates a world overflowing with fulfillment. Granted through the graces of my Lord, my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Life is Good. God is great.