I've taught myself how to pray using the Bible. Although I didn't understand how it worked at the beginning; I was desperate, and curious.
I remember the first time a friend suggested that I pray the psalms, I couldn't even wrap my head around the idea. What did that even mean? Why would anyone do such a thing? Reciting someone else's words from thousands of years ago didn't seem relevant.
And yet, I found that when I repeatedly approached God's word with a willing heart, He showed me the how and the why.
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
1 John 2:27
God led me to see myself in those Psalms. He showed me how to pray Jesus's parable of the soils for my children. He showed me that He would restore the years that the locusts had eaten. He taught me to prophesy courage, strength, and healing over my life. He showed me how to call on Him to fight for me.
Fast forward to the crisis of my life.
It was praying scripture that kept me alive during my brain aneurysm rupture, and 5-day brain bleed.
It was praying scripture in my long recovery at home that showed me that I am worthy, and that His grace is sufficient. I felt His power in my weakness and I will never be the same.
God's word is pure power.
He led me to focus all of my heart and strength on healing scripture, and He showed me how to rest, accept help, take care of my body and reprioritize my life. With God as my center, He introduced me to personal development and neuroplasticity (aka rewiring your bran).
It still amazes me how the book that was once so confusing has become my greatest treasure and toolbox. I've learned the power of positive mindset, gratitude, and bold language.
I've learned how to believe beyond my circumstances, and to be thankful for it all. I now know how to take my thoughts captive to Christ, and am the master of my emotions.
By pouring myself into His word, loving Him and obeying Him - I've become who I've always wanted to be: LOVED, WORTHY, SOFT, STRONG, FEMININE, EXPRESSIVE and most of all, CONTENT.
And speaking of language, I had a light bulb moment the other day as I was talking with my son. He's recently discovered personal development, and he was sharing with me some of the revelations he's been having. He was standing tall and strong, looking healthy and handsome, saying some of the same, exact words that that I have been speaking into him.
AND SOMETHING CLICKED INSIDE ME.
Wait. He's using MY words.
He's speaking MY language!
He's been listening to me.
He gets it.
(It was so great!)
And then I realized. THAT must be why God wants us to pray His word to Him. When He hears us speak in the same words He has spoken to us - He knows He's been heard. He knows that we understand what He's been trying to teach us (and I think that it must thrill Him too).
And so, I feel a renewed urgency to speak to God in His language, and I invite you to join me.
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
- Nelson Mandela
"And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we ask of Him."
-1 John 5:14-15
With love mixed with faith,
Sarah
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Would you like a tangible reminder that God's plans are good, and that He is working everything out in His perfect timing?
