Answered Prayer

One thing I have learned recently as we headed into the final days of preparation for our daughter’s wedding was that when you plan an outside wedding you are completely out of control of whether or not it actually goes off as planned. LOL.

Of course if you are smart or hire someone who is an expert, they will make sure you have a great back up plan. Early on I was told by our expert, Cricket, to do everything you can to pick a place and a time of year where the weather is usually good but BE WILLING TO LIVE WITH THE FACT that you don’t control the weather and it may not turn out like you planned.

Since Collins October engagement and I proudly and happily took on the role as “MOB,” little did I realize I was on a path of significant learning, stretching and growing…a.k.a…new experiences will always do this to anyone who embraces the process. I knew within days of setting the wedding date that we were taking a “leap of faith” to plan an outdoor wedding.

As friends started graciously asking, “How can I help?” the one thing I would say is, “Please ask God for a beautiful day!” I knew the people I asked would do just that! Not only did I ask others, but I prayed every day for a beautiful wedding day. I also knew and said to God, “Not my will but yours.” I also asked Him to allow me to be content either way!

A month before the wedding I started checking the weather in Linville, NC, e-v-e-r-y day. The majority of the time I loved what I saw but as the wedding approached….10 days before…and I was still checking the weather every day…it said 60% chance of rain. Then it would go to 50% chance of rain, then 20% chance of rain, then back to 70% chance of rain. At that point I called Barbara, the event planner in Linville. She told me it meant nothing until the Wednesday before.

So the Wednesday before looked great…20% chance, then Thursday 40% chance of rain. I won’t say that I panicked but my heart was heavy just thinking about all the guests missing the beauty of the mountains and the sun and having to walk in the rain in the grass. It was going to be a formal wedding and not only was the bride in a long dress, and the bridesmaids, but so was I and so were many of my friends and family.

”YUK” was the feeling I had when I thought of everyone walking in the rain to the tent without a view. On Friday, the day of the rehearsal, it was cloudy, cool and misting rain all day. When we went to the rehearsal, you could not see the mountains behind the lake for the fog. The weather forecast for the wedding day said 20% chance of rain. It was a little hard to believe when looking at the dreary day before.

But as I went to bed that night, I prayed and asked God to help me be OK with not so good weather. I prayed that my spirit would be one of gratitude and joy for our daughter’s wedding day. Honestly…I was awake most of the night not really stressing about the weather but just going over the plan B in my mind. I will never forget when 5 a.m. blinked on my iPhone. I picked it up and googled the weather. I wanted to shout.

You see, the whole time I had been stalking the Linville forecast for September 17, our game day, it had never read 0% chance of rain but it did that morning and included a little sun and cloud symbol. Based on my inner prayer and thought life, and my requests to other prayer warriors, that “0% chance” was a God wink for me!!!

Why? I had experienced the view with sun and clouds from that venue many times. In fact, the months leading up to the wedding I went on the venue site at least 10 times to have my quiet time early in the morning and would watch the sun come up over the mountains. It became a very familiar place and view for me. One that I wanted everyone that traveled to the wedding to have, not to mention our bride and groom…. and when I saw what I had not seen since I had been checking for the last 30 days, a “0%” chance, it blew my mind. I had seen all numbers it seemed but never in 30 days a “0%”…LOL….

Point of post: Learn to embrace the scripture, “You have not because you asked not.”

I made sure I asked and I had others ask of the Lord. I also prayed the way the Lord’s prayer teaches, “Not my will but Yours.” I claimed the following scripture found in Matthew 7:9-11, ”Which of you, if your son asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how MUCH MORE WILL YOUR FATHER in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” [emphasis mine].

Yes, I had been taught many years ago to pray scripture back to God and to also pray as scripture instructs. We all know NO ONE CONTROLS the WEATHER but ALMIGHTY God. It is ok to ask God for things. I ask all the time now and I pray with an expectant heart but I also pray with an open hand.

Prayer is the key to God’s heart and also the key to unlock our heart and the hearts of others. Learn to pray like scripture teaches. It will change your life and the lives of others as well.

Like Charles Stanley said recently, “You can touch anybody, anywhere with prayer.” You don’t have to know them or be with them. Prayer has NO boundaries!

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