Arrow Prayers
I was doing it again. Leaning to my own understanding. Trying to project into the future. That kind of thinking always left me anxious. I knew better but it seemed to be a familiar pattern back then (and sometimes now). Questions lingered in my mind about whether to leave for Texas to see my mom who was in the last stages of her life or wait until after Thanksgiving. I had traveled back and forth to McAllen numerous times that year. It was a difficult season, especially when Mom didn’t know my name. But I knew who she was and I tried to get there as often as I could.
Our immediate family was in the midst of new adventures and change. A third grandchild had been born that past year and our younger son was soon to be engaged. Plans for Thanksgiving included our son’s future fiancee’ flying in to meet our side of the family. We didn’t know if Mom would survive through Thanksgiving but we had to make plans for the holiday. Airline tickets had been purchased months in advance for our family get-togther. I remember mulling over the possibilities. How in the world would all of this work out when we didn’t know what a new day would bring. I was at my wit’s end until I stopped to pray. Right in the middle of what I was doing. I asked the Lord for help in one simple sentence. I didn’t steal away by myself for hours. I simply shot up a quick little prayer for help.
It didn’t take long before the Lord began to sort out all my confusion. He took my Mom home to heaven the week before Thanksgiving, allowing all of us to attend her beautiful home-going. We were amazed at His timing as every family member’s airline ticket perfectly aligned with the others. God had truly made the rough places smooth and the crooked straight. Every detail worked out with amazing precision. It was obvious our times were in His hands. I will never forget how the Lord intervened that November of 2006. And all it took was a simple prayer. We enjoyed an amazing Thanksgiving, grateful for a new assurance of His faithfulness.
To pray in the secret place is vital. But so is praying on the go. They call them “arrow prayers.” A simple little plea sent up to the Father … at the precise moment we need Him. He loves to unravel our messes. As long as we pray continually.
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
2 Samuel 5:18 David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?
Proverbs 16:3 (Amp) Roll your works upon the Lord.
He will cause you thoughts to become agreeable to His will
and so shall your plans be established and succeed.
Questions to consider:
1. What is your interpretation of the command to “seek first the kingdom of God”?
2. What truths stand out to you in Matthew 7:7?
3. What promise is available to us about making decisions?
4. What did David do before acting?
5. When has the Holy Spirit changed your thinking and set you on a different path?
Summary:
How many times do we try to go it alone, depending on common sense and worldly wisdom? It takes but a brief moment to shoot up a prayer for help when we’re confused. Asking for His mind and insight is our way of honoring God who sits on the throne of our lives. He has the final authority over everything concerning us, so let’s take advantage of our relationship with the Creator by releasing those arrows!
I find that seeking the LORD in all things first and then other things will be added to each one of us – when we are in prayer wanting an answer – we must remember that GOD will answer at the correct time and will work everything out for each one of us – always. Sometimes we think that the doors are closed in our lives – but if we seek the LORD at all times – the doors will be opened just at the right time for us. The thing to remember is to SEEK THE LORD FIRST IN ALL THINGS. The promise that is made to us is that GOD is always just around the corner and HE knows just the right time to work everything out in our lives. You and I will be taught and instructed in the way we will go by the LORD about making all of our decisions – we just have to ask for HIS help in our lives. David inquired of the LORD before he did anything – David wanted to know what the LORD would do for him before he started out on his own. The LORD has changed my ways of thinking many times in my life – sometimes we must learn a new path that GOD is instructing us to walk. We must learn to always ASK THE LORD FIRST about the path to walk in our lives. Another wonderful lesson – Thanks so much – Karen.