Reviving the Prayer Journal

The Landscape in Vermont near Mrs. White's Home.  (Photograph taken last year.)

When I was a young wife and mother, I had so many worries and troubles.  There were daily struggles for finances, transportation, and getting the things we needed.  I had no hope for any of it, except from the Lord.  I used to write little prayers in a diary.  I would write out the date and then say something like:

"Our car has broken down again. It will cost $200 for repairs. How will we pay for this?  There is no money in the budget. We have no savings.  I give this burden to you, Lord. Please help us."

This would be written at the top of the page.  The lower portion of the paper was saved to write out the answer and the blessing.

You might wonder how we managed to get by with a broken down car while we waited for the Lord to help.  I will tell you. . . We walked, or gratefully accepted rides from family members to get us to the store, or co-workers helped get my husband to work.  It was more difficult, but we got through until the blessing came.

Once the prayer was answered, I would go back and find the page it had been written on, and I would write out the blessing. The answer might have been something like:

"An unexpected job came up for my husband.  He was able to do the extra work for a couple of weeks. This money paid for the car repair. Thank you!" (The answer always came about in an unexpected way!)

At other times, the prayers and the worries were so hard to bear.  There would be shoes needed for the children.  We may not have had enough food.  My husband was laid off work or lost jobs and those were the hardest times to manage.  I would write down the prayers and the needs and then get back to mothering and homemaking.  I would leave it with the Lord.  Sometimes he answered those prayers before the end of the day. At other times, I waited weeks.  But always the prayers were answered.  I learned to depend on God for all things in this way.  I learned not to rush out and try to fix it all myself. I gained patience and faith and trust and was greatly blessed with a journal of answered prayers.

Our lives are not to revolve around material things, shopping, and money.  The answer to every problem in life is not being rich or having an abundance of possessions.  We are to trust the Lord, working with Him in faith, works, and prayers. This creates an incredible bond and a closeness to our Heavenly Father.   We might say, "How should I manage this, or please guide me in this decision."  We pray, "Lord, please take care of me. Please help."   We say this each day, just like we ask for our daily bread.  The Lord cares for the sparrows who have no home.  He provides us with incredible beauty in sunrises, landscapes, the chirping of sweet birds, and the stunning display of flowers.  There is beauty in trust and faith in the Lord.  He knows all our needs in all times.  He waits for us to ask and to trust in Him.  This is what makes life so precious.

Perhaps this is a good time to revive the old time prayer journal.  Any notebook will work well for this.  It is like a diary of needs and the asking for help from our dear Lord.  Then we write the blessings, the answers, and all the ways the Lord Himself has taken care of us, His dear children.

We can also look back and read these precious entries so that we will always remember that it is the Lord who has provided, and not we ourselves.  He owns the cattle on a thousand hills!  He has the power to give and take wealth, as well as life.  Oh, there is great peace in putting our very lives in His hands and trusting Him for each of our numbered days.  We are grateful for His goodness and His precious care. 


Blessings
Mrs. White


From the Archives -

The Reality - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

It means everything to be - Just a Housewife.

Happy times with Family - Living a Quiet Life.

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking."

Find stories of home life, with photographs of my home, in this encouraging book. 

 Paperback, 200 pages. 

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