21 Days of Prayer

Every January and every August, we do this at my church.  M-F at 6am and Sat at 9am, we are at the church praying and worshipping.  For three weeks.  Lord, help me.  That is early for this night owl!

Work starts at 7am for me today, so I stayed home to watch online.  Travis listens on his way to work and Kristie and Emrie join online and then we facetime for the personal prayer time. 

This morning, I woke up to a text from Kristie that they were going to miss today.  She hasn't been sleeping and is miserable.  I get it!  I feel horrible!  For how she feels, but mostly for forgetting to tell them that Satan doesn't like what we're up to:  pressing into God, doing MORE for His kingdom.  The enemy is going to attack!  And hit us where it's most uncomfortable.  For me, it's physical and in my marriage.  Day 1? I had a crown.  Day 2?  The WORST heartburn WHILE at my first day back in prison.  UGH.  But in those moments I press in further, telling the devil "NO, NOT TODAY!" (that's a song, by the way!)  Thanking God that I have the confirmation that I'm on the right path for Him.  And this too shall pass.  I pray for strength for us all - not our strength but God's.  That's what it will take to make it thru!

Speaking of prison...HAHA

The first day back was AMAZING!!  We planned just to have an informal conversation and start curriculum next week.  Find out who all was going to join us, find out how they are, find out how they've been.  I fully expected (and prayed for grace, strength, peace and love to handle) the lamenting to overflow.  They had it ROUGH during the pandemic.  But did that happen?  NOOOOOOPE.  For an hour and a half, not one complaint.  Nothing but positivity.  They complimented the staff and officers.  They praised God for the miracles they saw around them.  They told us that no one died from COVID, no one had to leave for the hospital due to COVID, and no one got really sick - sure, some got it and had to be in the infirmary for a few days, but NOTHING like what we experienced on the outside.

When we started, we shared that we felt helpless.  But that we prayed.  And boy, did I pray (not as much as some - found out that one group went to the parking lot of the prison and prayed.  What a GREAT idea!!!)  We said that while we could do nothing, we just prayed.  One gal said, "It's not JUST prayer.  PRAYER made all the difference!"  They also talked about celebrating the Passover at Easter and how that story came to life for them - they felt that God passed them over and there was a hedge of protection over them.  Even the most at-risk population there were fine.  

None of the gals in our class got COVID.

They had great roommates, no drama.  Half of them started college online, one finished her GED (and that had been a struggle for her, trust me!) and all of them had better attitudes than most of the people I know on the outside. 

It was incredible.  

I felt such joy.  It felt like when I was a kid at Christmas time, but better!  I couldn't stop smiling!  And what a surprise to hear all the good.  And none of the bad...and I know there was bad. 

Nothing but joy.

Then, I come home to more answered prayer.  Travis had a client book a long weekend for a business he's working with.  Called it a spiritual retreat.  Booked with them because of Travis and his faith.  We have been praying that Travis had opportunity to share about Jesus.  And that was answered in the most unexpected way.  After the last day yesterday, the guides were all chit-chatting (as they always do) and Colten talked about what happened with him while he was guiding.

One of the clients asked him, "If you were hit by a train tomorrow, what percentage are you likely to go to heaven?"  Colten said, "Uh, like 50/50.  I'm a good person."  Travis said, "If he'd ask me that, I would say 100% I would".  Then they talked at great length about Jesus (and the point is relationship) and church (no, you don't have to go to church to be considered a Christian, but it's good for the relationship aspect - we're not meant to do life alone), salvation (how simple it really is, but how hard it is for some people) and baptism (an outward expression of an inward decision).  And how it's not works that gets us to heaven, it's only Jesus.  Travis has been ministering to his guide buddies for a long time.  Colten is one of his best friends and this was such a big deal for him.  It was awesome to hear him recount the story and the joy it brought him.  I pray Colten.  I pray for life change!

Did I mention how excited I am that I can go back to prison?  There is such joy in obedience.  The kind I can't explain, oh, how I try.