Please Send the Help I Need

This electric heater came through church family from someone who had read my blog! The previous bomb gas heater is retired now and saved for storms! I'm very thankful!

This will be the third try at starting this little post. The thought of "help" is uncomfortable. Asking for help?? *Shudder* It's always been a struggle.

Lately I have felt this urging: To pray for God to send me the help He thinks I need.

I am normally one to pray very specifically. If I need $100.28, this is what I pray for. I pray for everything I need. It started when I was a young child. There have been many times in my life when God has rocked my world with his provision...

Like the time I prayed for an answering machine because my husband was a pastor who was holding a second job and it felt like that would help. But we did not have one extra penny. Just a couple of weeks after I started praying a friend called and mentioned that she had gotten a new answering machine but her old one still worked fine and she wanted to know if I wanted it. And honestly, I could go on and on... Does everything I pray for magically appear on my doorstep? No, of course not. God says "no" or "wait" at times. I trust him to know what is best!! Does I only pray for what I need? Of course not!! In both instances, I have seen God answer in amazing ways more times than I can count!

When we brought our 4 sweeties home, I knew I was not going to be able to go it alone. Our church family has been A-MAZ-ING, really amazing. I'm not saying I never ask a person directly for help. I just recently asked a dear friend from my church family to borrow her 9 passenger van for a family reunion (this enables us all to travel there in 1 car).

But here is what was starting to happen in my heart...as people came forward offering to help in different areas (like babysitting, for example), I was starting to rely on people too much. I am not saying it's bad to rely on people. However, when I have a need, I should bring it to my Heavenly Father first. He is my provider. When I rely on people, there lives change and situations change.

So, I have felt it a healthy thing to pray: "Lord send me the help I need." And then I trust... When God fills a need I thank him. When he does not, I know there is something he must be teaching me through my lack (this is my goal).

"I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me." ~Phil. 4:10-13

I am all about praying specifically. In other areas, I do. But for now, I am so thankful for God's grace. Even when I don't really know exactly how to pray or how to ask and remember who my REAL provider is, God loves me and is gracious to help me. 

This gift of books came right out of the blue and is on the perfect reading level of my youngest son! By the time he is done with them, his younger sisters will be ready!!