I Need Thee Every Hour

Do you ever feel alone? I do. Sometimes I spend a lot of time alone. I like time alone but then there are times it’s too much. I spoke with a lady this week who was “feeling like an island.” Home had not been a comfortable place lately and she was discouraged. She said, “I can’t seem to make them change.” No, no you can’t. All we can do is worry about ourselves. We can talk to God about changing our selves to be the best for people around us and to serve God, but there isn’t anything we can do about others. I will tell you though that praying for someone to come into God’s will is an amazing tool. He will not make anyone do anything, He has given us free will, but He has ways of changing peoples’ hearts that can do amazing things to change behavior. If you have relationships today that are strained, call on Jesus. Especially marriage. It is too important to let it die. God gave us marriage as a wonderful gift, but anyone who has been married for a while knows that the stress of life can make marriage another stress. When you cannot understand why the other person is acting the way they are, just know that no amount of nagging, screaming, crying or manipulation will make that person change. (Trust me, both men and women do all four of those) But GOD can. If I have had a tough conversation with anyone I care about, I find myself praying. Sometimes I pray that God will soften their hearts and help them to see my point of view. Sometimes I have to ask God to soften their hearts toward me because of something I said. What I can tell you is that I would be a much happier person if I stopped and took everything to God in that exact moment. No matter what the situation is.

Last Monday, a reaction to a new medicine sent me to the ER. I emailed Stacy to put me on the prayer chain when I got home. The ER gave me no meds because it was not an allergic reaction, it was not unusual for this med to make people that sick, so it just needed time to get out of my system. I felt better the next day and by Wed evening, I felt pretty much myself and we went to Lenten service. The ER Dr told me it would take 5 or 6 days to get out of my system completely. But God had other ideas. I have no doubt that the prayers sent for me were the cause. The older I get the more I realize the power of prayer.

Lord, I humbly come to you today with thanksgiving and praise for being our healer, our provider, our savor and Lord. I need thee every hour. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen

Shirlene Peterson