Thirsty

Caught a glimpse of His splendor this past weekend. It was like a flash of lighting reflecting off the sky while over looking the sunset at Wing Beach. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve seen.

Though I have a busy schedule and lots of friends here in Saipan there are still many times I feel alone. It isn't the type of loneliness that just anything or anyone can fill. Its deeper than that. They say feeling loneliness is a part of the mission life. The strangest thing is that the times that I feel alone are the times I feel closest to God. Perhaps its because I am clinging onto Him for dear life. He is in complete control.

It will be my one-year anniversary of living in Saipan this September. I’m already looking back and re-evaluating if I accomplished all that I set out for here in Saipan. I feel that I have grown up a lot over the past year. Still my spiritual walk isn’t quite at the level I’d like it to be at. I’m still longing to deepen my relationship with Him.

We started a small bible study group Friday nights and prayer sessions on Wednesday nights. It was exactly what I needed. It’s taking us back to the basics about what Seventh-day Adventists believe and understanding who God really is. Spending time with the new student teachers is helping me refocus on what is important. No matter what I try to keep filling up my life with to be happy . . . nothing can quite quench or satisfy my thirst for something more than what this world has to offer like God can.

Bing! The MIcrowave Prayer.

Grant is leading out in prayer sessions on Wednesday nights. During prayer sessions we are studying different prayers in the Bible. We are hoping to learn how to pray better and to be connected to God on a deeper level. Ever feel like your stuck in a rut? Sometimes when I say my prayers at night before I go to bed I catch myself saying the same thing and in the same order. The "microwave prayer" as Grant calls it. Before my prayers would go like this "God thank you for helping me make it through the day, help me to a have good nights rest, forgive my sins, oh and can you be with . . . " I think its because I'm really tired at night and I just want to go to bed. Regardless the prayer is still sad, eh?

Today we studied the Believers prayer in Act 4:23-30. Peter and the other disciples pray for courage and boldness to witness and God answers them. We broke down the prayer and learned that how to pray better. There are three parts to a prayer. The three P's: Praise, Problem, and Power. The first part of a prayer is praise and glorifying God. No problem is big enough for God to fix. He made the heavens and earth. When I think of how grand and amazing that is, it makes me realize that my problems are really small compared to what God can do. The second part of praying is presenting your problem to God. God loves it when you give your problems and worries to Him. Letting go and giving Him ultimate control is what He wants. By doing so you'll be able to experience more than you could have ever imagined. The third part of prayer is power. Asking God for the strength and power for whatever it is you need.

I really believe there is power in prayer and that God will answer you. Sometimes maybe not in the way that you want or when you want, but He answers in His own very way, in His own perfect timing. Just my thoughts . . .