Thankfulness

There is something to be said about choosing to go about life joyfully or thankfully. Once you start looking for things to be thankful about more and more start to show up. I had the house to myself yesterday!!! So I started writing some thank you notes I was sadly pretty behind on! It made me start thinking about how blessed I truly am. I was writing to thank people for some the things they had sent for Addie, but then I was struck with how much more grateful I was for all the prayers that they had and are praying for Addie. I have been learning more and more about persevering prayer these past few months. There is something special about not getting everything you want the second you ask for it. I think we see that as parents and try our best not to give our children every want right away so they don't become spoiled, or for their greater good. Why then would God not do the same thing for our greater good. Through periods of waiting we are called to a deeper trust in God because we are holding on in faith to His promises even though the results are not visible yet. My verse Hebrews 10:36 "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." God wants us to persevere so He can bless us, not only with what He has promised but also with a greater faith and appreciation of who He is. I don't want to get lost in doubt or despair because He is still God and He still loves me, but He also knows and sees so much bigger than I do and that is why trusting is necessary. He calls us to be patient and wait and I am learning that patience isn't in waiting but in joyfully waiting. Situations arise that we all must wait whether you want to or not. It doesn't make you patient that it takes you 3 hours to get from one place to another if you complain all the while; it makes you patient when you trust and have joy as you travel the 3 hours. In each situation the time doesn't change just your attitude and perspective. Then when you look back you have had a good trip instead of a miserable trip, blessings in disguise. So we have been persevering in prayer for Addie's healing believing that God hears us, but I was blessed as I wrote my thank you's and realized how many people He had been hearing. Matthew 18:19-20 "

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Also, there is the promise in Isaiah 65:24 "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." So you see while the things for Addie are wonderful how much more wonderful was the realization of all the people that have called out to God for Addie. He has met with them in prayer and He has already heard and answered the requests! We have a faithful God. While I was somewhat disappointed when I left the specialist last week, God reminded me and continued to remind me that He is hearing our prayers. Actually one of my biggest shocks last week was that I was already dilating, but then come Sunday my dad showed up to help me with the boys so that I can stay off my feet as much as possible! God already reminded He was in control and then He blessed me with an unexpected answer! So whatever things you may be need to persevere in prayer in don't lose hope. Psalms 147:11 "the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." He delights when we fear Him and put our hope in Him because that is when His power came truly shine through. As we call out to Him and claim His word as true and therefore His promises in His word as true, there is power! Psalms 25:3a "No one who hopes in you, will ever be put to shame." Our hope and expectation for Addie's healing is found in Him. We are not afraid regardless what the last scans have said because we have cried out and continue to cry out, and we know that many others have and do continue to join us as we persevere and pray for her healing! So do not be discouraged if your answers haven't come as quickly as you anticipated, don't let that distract you from whom you are praying to and hoping in. The answers will come and it will be more than you could imagine. Remember how great God is! Get into His word and pray from your heart. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21. He is already at work to do more than we can even dream for His glory, but because of His love!