Day 30: 31 Days in Prayer

Day 30: 31 Days in Prayer

Verse:

“But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say: "You are my God!" My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who pursue me!  (Psalm 31:14-15 - TB) my eyes grow dim because of sorrow. I have called on You, O LORD, all day long; I have stretched out my hands to You. (Psalm 88:9 - TB)

Reflection:

My grandmother, or as we simply call her, Nonna, is one of the wisest and most delightful people of God I know. Over these past few years, during family vacations and phone calls I have spent with her, I have been amazed as I listened to her wisdom and advice about life, relationships, and fully surrendering to God. One of the great “secrets of her life” is this: she prays with open hands - which she talks about in her book God’s Pitcher. How often do we pray with folded hands but with insincere hearts? When you pray with open hands, it becomes more of a physical way of trusting God and surrendering your desires to Him. Peace will come when you open your hands and keep them open! Here is an example and quotation from her book to explain this idea: “I often imagine this struggle like a toddler clutching candy in his hand while his mother tells him to give the candy to her. It is simply a losing battle for a toddler. He may keep holding the candy until it finally melts in his hand. Then he also has to deal with cleaning his hand. No matter how hard he tries, his mother is stronger, and she can open his little fingers from the candy if she wants to. He may miss out on something better; his mother may want to give him his favorite dessert after dinner! How much better it is when he is willing to open his hand, obey his mother, and trust that his mother will give what is best in due time.” This “candy” may be the spouse you want, a baby, a new house, or a job. And in your life, is it hard to surrender that thing to God? When you open both hands before the throne of God and place every desire, concern, or anything else there and leave it there, allowing God to take it away, replace it with something better, or give it back at the right time.

Challenge:

Today, pray while kneeling on the floor and with open hands before God. Humble yourself before God's throne in prayer, and stretch out both your hands to Him. Pray through several things in your life that you want to hold onto and control until you can sincerely open your hands before God, surrendering everything to Him.

Translated from the article “31 Days of Prayer: Day 30” by Kiara Yeatman