I was sick last Wednesday and Thursday…very sick! I have no idea what in the heck hit me…but whatever it was it just about knocked me OUT! I went to bed on Wednesday night at 7:30 and didn’t get out of bed until 9:30 the next morning…and I felt like my body had been used as a speed bump on a major highway.
I hate being sick…but it was especially tough since Thursday was our all staff meeting day. I love all staff meeting…it’s a time where we bring in all our staff from every campus and we share stories about all that the Lord is doing…and there is usually a time where I get to teach some leadership lessons to the staff that both challenges and encourages everyone. It’s one of my favorite things I get to do…
BUT…it wasn’t happening for me Thursday morning. I tried, believe me! I told myself to get out of bed, that I was being a pathetic wus, you know, all of that stuff that we say to ourselves sometimes.
However, it wasn’t happening. I can’t remember the last time I was that sick. I literally almost passed out walking from the bedroom to the living room to get my phone to let some people know that I was not going to be able to make it in. I felt like I needed to throw up and my energy level was GONE!
So…the staff meeting went on as usual and it was AWESOME as two of our leadership guys stepped in and taught about what the Lord had been doing in their lives. (I LOVE the fact that I serve at a church where everything doesn’t fall apart when the Senior Pastor isn’t there! I am so blessed to be surrounded by amazing leaders.)
And while the staff meeting was going on…a funny thing happened…I started feeling better. Seriously, I had no idea why…but my strength began to return and I had the thought, “maybe I can go in today and still meet with our campus pastors for lunch.”
Over the next 30 minutes or so about 90% of my strength returned and I made the decision to go in…and decided to call Jason Wilson, our executive pastor, and let him know that I was coming in to meet with him and the campus pastors.
I called him at 11:27.
Little did I know that the staff meeting was wrapping up…and one of the staff members was asked to pray for me. He told me that he really felt impressed to pray boldly for me and so he literally prayed that the Lord would heal me and that I would get out of bed and come into the office. Jason Wilson told me that for some reason he looked at the clock right as those words were coming out Jake’s mouth (Jake is who prayed for me) and the time was…you guessed it…11:27.
I didn’t get Jason on the phone…so I called Shane, no answer there either. I finally called Margie, a lady who works in my area and when she answered and I told her I was coming in she about lost her mind. She told me, “Jake literally just prayed that you would come in today! OH WOW!”
God answers prayers!
We are encouraged in Ephesians 3:12 that we can approach God with freedom and confidence…and in the Gospel Jesus tells us in Luke 11:5-13 that we can and should pray with boldness because God wants to bless us with good things.
- God STILL answers prayers!
- He still heals people!
- He still saves people!
- He still is in the miracle business!
- He is as great as He has ever been!
And…it is my hope and prayer that my prayer life (and yours) will become more specific, focused and that we will ask Him for the things that we know that can’t happen unless HE IS INVOLVED!
- So why not ask big for the miracle you need in your life?
- Why not ask big for the miracle you want to see in your church?
- Why not ask big in regards to all that needs to happen in your marriage?
- Why not ask big when it comes to your job?
Let’s pray BOLD prayers…God is big…He can handle it!