Sitting on my balcony in the sun, overlooking the water on a day in March seems so beautiful and normal. And beautiful it is but not normal, not at noon on a Wednesday. Usually I would be teaching my 2nd grade class music and dealing with quarrels between girls that love and hate each other at the same time. I would have to inform the parents afterwards and spend endless time sorting out what had been said and what had not been said, who started the quarrel and who should apologise. I would call it everyday 1st world problems. 🙂

Now I work from home, trying to have all my class meet online and respect that only one should speak at a time. That is the new normal. I still a have job, I am still being paid and I will meet these beautiful children again in a few weeks.

For you reading this you might think to yourself; I guess her normal is different, but it still sounds really nice. And you might be right. Seemingly, everything seems fine.

But there is a different story behind the story. In the midst of this not-normal, seemingly nice time I have dear ones close to me that are struggling with life in general, with health issues, with fear, with no jobs, with heavy things and it impacts me in a profound way. So sitting on the balcony enjoying the sun, my spirit cries out to God to make a way through it all. My soul is feeling the pain of my loved ones going through this and I feel overwhelmed by life.

But I made a decision when life was strong, who I want to be when I am weak! I once decided to always fix my eyes on Jesus and pray. I have decided that whatever happens in my life, I will pray. My soul might not feel like it, but I will pray. And I choose to believe that God´s promises are true, that when I pray, He will hear me and give me the desires of my heart.

In this season people might look like they are fine, they have a what they need and they seem ok, but on the inside their world might be falling apart. Many of you reading this blog might be feeling so unsure of what the future brings, paralysed with fear and uncertainty, crying out for God to act.

I really would like you to understand how prayer has become my way out of darkness even though my feelings again and again try to speak louder than my faith. And my prayer will be that you also will experience the power of prayer.

2 Chronicles 7:14  says: “ If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

If my people will…then I will.

God somehow has made Himself dependant on us to pray. If we pray, He can act!

God is almighty and the creator of everything. Of course He can do what He wants. But somehow He has decided to be dependent on our prayers. He wants us to talk to Him. He wants our attention because He loves us. He wants to pour His blessing upon us, and the world all around us, but He needs us to ask Him for His blessings.

In the old testament we hear the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. God saw the ungodliness in these cities and wanted to destroy them. But first He spoke to Abraham about it, Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy them and God actually changed His mind and plans because of Abrahams prayers. (Genesis chapter 18)

Our prayers can change the world around us! Once we realise that, our life changes. It brings so much hope. It invites the God of the universe into our situations and it changes everything around us.

In a time like this there are plenty of things to pray for, so… let´s do it! Ask Jesus to change the things in our lives that are heavy and dark, don’t hold back.

In James 4:2-3 it says that we do not receive because we don’t ask. Let us not live a life like that. But do like Jesus says in Matt. 7:7;

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you”

So decide today that prayer will be your weapon in this life, in a time like this. Pray for yourself, your loved loves, and for the world around you that don’t know the power of prayer yet. Pray for the ones that seem good on the outside, but might be falling apart on the inside. It will transform the world you are in. It may not take you out of hardships, but it allows God to bring hope and change into your life, and allows Him to get you THROUGH it. Join me in experiencing the power of prayer!

Ingrid. xx