Hold On - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) November 16, 2021

Childbirth is considered a wonderful experience. Nine months of a baby growing in its mother's womb to then be born and nurtured. Babies smell lovely, they look cute and sound even more delightful when they're not crying.

However, the pregnancy process can be - well, if I'm to be honest - a tad traumatic. Mothers may endure wild cravings, nausea, vomiting, swollen ankles, mysterious aches and pains, and of course the c-word (constipation). And yet, despite the realities of pregnancy, many mothers somehow experience amnesia and 'sign up' for additional pregnancies.

I believe there's something about holding your newborn in your hands that makes you forget whatever ordeal you went through during the pregnancy or delivery. Surely, hormones of some kind kick in to make you fall in love with your child and be willing to go through every sleepless night and contraction again. I thank God He designed it that way.

Waiting on the Him to deliver for you can be like the pregnancy process. In many cases, there's nothing cute about it. You might battle with doubt and wonder whether God will ever come through. You might even question your sanity while forcing yourself to remember His promises in the Bible or those He's personally made to you.

And when you receive God's blessing? Well, that is akin to the moment a fatigued mother holds her baby in her arms. All you can think to yourself is that the tears and the prayers were well worth it. You somehow forget the painful moments within the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10). Instead, all you smile at the bundle of joyful blessings the Lord has placed in your hands.

Now, what do we do in between the period of waiting and when we step into God's promise? I've learned to praise the Lord and petition for others. Praising God opens the heavens by pleasing Him. We get to align with His will by obediently honoring the scripture in Psalm 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. We tell the devil that no matter what it does, we shall keep our eyes on the Lord.

Prayerful petition (aka Intercession) takes our minds off our desires and forces us to focus on what other people need. I believe it also enables us to align ourselves with God's will as stated in Ephesians 6:18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Intercession causes us to emulate Jesus who was always concerned about the spiritual and physical needs of people.

Are you believing in God for something? Be it for yourself or someone else - don't give up! Imagine yourself a pregnant woman enduring discomfort and pain as she awaits the arrival of her newborn. Now, Imagine how happy you'll be to see your baby and how the process will be forgotten as you smile and sing for joy.

May the Lord help us all to wait patiently without complaints and grumbling. May we follow the example of King David in Psalm 43:5 - Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. And in addition to our praise, may we fervently pray for people to receive what they are waiting on the Lord for. And may we remember that when the Lord fulfills His promise, we shall be amazed and overwhelmed with joy. It shall be unbelievable and we shall be like those who dreamed (Psalm 126:1). Just don't give up (James 1:12)! He will do it (Psalm 37:5)!

Join me at 12 Noon EST for Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) where we'll get to do just that. We'll give God glory and petition for others with zeal. Please come ready to share what you're thanking the Lord for as well as names or situations/issues to pray about. God bless you.