Since my journey began, prayer has played an important role in my life. Not that my prayer life was unimportant before, but now my communication with God involves more time and more people; people literally around the world.
Prayer is a sign of how much energy one has for God and the energy one has for God is one way to measure how much one knows God. Knowing God for a Christian is a life-long study and continues for eternity. And prayer is one way to get to know God better. In fact, our prayer life and what goes on in our hearts is the measure of our knowledge or lack thereof of God.
As mentioned previously, talking with God (prayer) has understandably increased in recent weeks and my relationship with Him has grown as well. I have learned that He wants me to rely upon Him more and more and less and less upon myself. In fact, He has brought me face to face with a fact that most Christians know intellectually, but, if truth be known, many have not put into actual practice in their daily lives, namely, that He, God, is in complete control of everything in and about our lives and the sooner we admit this and turn over complete control of our lives to Him, the better off and happier we will be.
God wants what is best for us and knows better what is best for us now and in the future because He knew us before we were even formed and possesses total knowledge of the future. He is Omniscient. He can see around the corners of our lives - we can't. We are foolish to think we are in control when we don't even know what will happen in the next second let alone next hour, day, week, month, etc. I certainly didn't see my current situation coming, but God did and had certain events and people lined up to take particular actions at specified times which resulted in the cancer being caught early and appropriate treatment being started.
People have been very faithful in their intercessory prayers for me for which I am most thankful. Especially comforting has been the number of people praying and their locations. My local church, Mona Shores Baptist Church, is praying for me daily as are friends and relatives. Via social media, churches in other venues are praying for me as well. One such example is Blythefield Baptist Church in Rockford, Michigan which is the sending church of our middle son, Jeff, and his family who are missionaries at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya, East Africa. Other RVA missionaries and staff whom we met while visiting and teaching there are praying also.
One particular prayer group bears mention. Relatively recently, our missionary son, Jeff, brought to our attention that the mother of one of the Kenyan nationals employed at RVA needed a kidney transplant. While teaching at RVA, my husband, Greg, and I had met this woman's son whose name was also Geoffrey (obviously, different spelling). Our church's Mission Team became involved because Greg is the Deacon of Missions. The church and specific members of the congregation donated money toward the transplant surgery and flight to South Africa where the surgery took place. In addition, prayers were said for Geoffrey's mom. I am pleased to say that the surgery was successful and Geoffrey's mother is home in Kenya recovery nicely. Praise God! As a result of this contact, Geoffrey, his family, and his church are now praying for me. God brings Christians from around the world closer together through prayer.
And is prayer working, some might ask? Allow me to share my recent visit to the Nephrologist and subsequent blood test results and you be the judge. The Nephrologist whom I first met here in Muskegon where my journey began wanted to see me and go over recent tests concerning my kidneys. I had been praying that the results would be good. In fact, I talked with God about my kidneys returning to norm functioning status. The Nephrologist told Greg and me that my test results were very good. My Creatine level which measures the amount of proteins in my kidneys had fallen from a high of 7.8 (signifying my kidneys were only functions at 5%) to 2.0 which was close to normal. I commented to him that by the next time he saw me, my Creatine would be down to normal. He responded that my kidneys may never be down to normal again, but could remain at their current level of functioning which would be ok. We made an appointment to see him on April 9.
The next day I was due for a routine blood test to monitor all kinds of chemical levels in my blood. The test was in the morning. A copy of the results was supplied to me in the afternoon. The Creatine level had...FALLEN! Fallen to 1.6. Normal range is 0.7 - 1.4. Thank you, God! The test indicated that the BUN (blood, urea, nitrogen) level in my kidneys had fallen from a high of 30 to 24. Normal BUN range is 8 - 21. Approaching normal there as well, Praise the LORD! Needless to say God and I are still discussing my kidney functioning.
What important lesson can one learn from this experience? Allow me to quote from an article in WORLD Magazine, February 2012 issue, written by Andree Seu: "I can do nothing to direct my path or to ensure my own well-being or prosperity or happiness, because I cannot see around corners; therefore, I will obey the Holy Spirit all my life."
Until next time, my journey continues...
Louise
"I can do nothing to direct my path or to ensure my own well-being or prosperity or happiness, because I cannot see around corners;
therefore, I will obey the Holy Spirit all my life."
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