Prayer of Jabez

This mornings sermon was on the prayer of Jabez (1st Chronicles 4:9&10). Check it out at http://www.fbctw.org/fbctw/sermons.

It is so amazing when you get a message at just the right time and speaks to you so deeply. The sermon was basically about that it is ok to pray for things for your self, it doesn't mean that God will say yes or that you wont have pain or challenges but that it is alright to ask God for things. I know a lot of times we feel very selfish to pray for things for ourselves and I have been struggling with that a lot lately. I have been going through a miscarriage for the past several weeks. When Thomas and i first found out that we were most likly going to lose the baby we prayed and asked others to pray for us that we would have peace over what ever way the pregnancy was going to go. It turned out that yes I was going to lose the baby and we had a great peace about the whole situation wash over us. We know that Gods plans are the best plans. It's not to say that we don't morn the loss of this baby it's just that we are at peace and we know God is in charge and has something special in store for us what ever that might be. The thing about this miscarriage I am struggling with is how long it has been taking. Even though I lost the baby my body still thinks it's pregnant which means I get all the symptoms of the 1st trimester pregnancy. I get very tired easily and still get nausea. The doctor had led me to believe that I could take some pills and then everything would be over in a few days and then a little while longer for the hormones to be completely gone. Well it is taking a lot longer than that. I have been getting very frustrated with being worn out all the time and always feeling sick. I kept telling myself that God is trying to teach me patience and just to be patient and this will pass. This morning I could here God talking directly to me through Dr. Bruce's words. God was saying, "Kristen, ask me". I could hear the Lord telling me to ask him to take away everything I am going through. I really can't remember the last time I heard the Lord talk to me so plain and clear. But of course that was still not enough to get me to stop right then and there and pray. During the invitation I was thinking about one of the things I really miss about Gateway Baptist church was the alter call that they had at every service. As soon as I finished that thought Dr. Bruce said come to the alter to pray! Of course me being as stubborn as I am didn't get up and go to the alter to pray. I finally did get on my knees and pray right there in the pew. I prayed and asked God to please let me be threw with this miscarrage and to be done with feeling sick and tired. When I got up and cleaned up I could hear the Lord say, " See child, don't you feel better?" Not only did I feel better because I felt a burden lifted but for the 1st time in many many weeks I stopped feeling sick. It's amazing what God will do for you if you will just ask. I don't know why we as Christians have such a hard time asking God for things for ourselves.

God has really been trying to get my attention a lot here lately, through Dr. Bruce's sermons, VBS, and Even the movie The Book of Eli, I can just be so stubborn! Finally Lord I'm listening.