Aug. 6, 2009 - Sending Petitions...to God.
This week I have been reading the 7th and final book of the series that has become our family's favorite: The Terrestria Chronicles...book 7...The Great War. It is a Christian allegory, using knights, castles, swords and shields to portray the Christian walk. I have read the series to my 6 and 9 yr olds, though the older boys always want to hear it again too.
We have had to many opportunities to discuss spiritual matters with our children in a way they can understand as a result of reading these books together.
Yesterday, we read about the importance of sending "petitions" to "King Emmanuel." In the stories, each child of King Emmanuel has a book that when swung through the air turns into a sword. They can also use it in book form to guide them through their life on the paths to know which way to go. The book glows when you are going the right way, and dims if you are going the wrong way. In the back of the book, the main characters can take a parchment and write a quick petition to King Emmanuel at any time and as much as possible and it's immediately sent to "The Golden City of the Redeemed" and in the hands of Emmanuel. In book 7, the author says that many of the inhabitants of Terrestria have almost entirely forgotten to even send petitions, or if they do, it's a thoughtless one before meals or in times of great decisions. How much King Emmanuel longs to help his children in even the seemingly small areas of life. In one scene, the castle is being attacked by the evil forces of Argamor (who represents Satan). 2 angels are talking as they watch the battle wondering why nobody is sending petitions to the King for help. They were ready and waiting to assist and help defeat the enemy but they were waiting on Emmanuel's command and there was none because nobody was asking.
I was driving today and thinking about the concept of prayer. In the book it makes so much sense and it's so obvious, in every situation what the characters are forgetting to do, but how often do we do that in our own lives. Like the inhabitants in Terrestria, we all remember to pray before meals and in huge decisions, but what about the day to day small, intricate challenges? Wisdom in dealing with a toddler...how to plan our day...giving our day to God to allow our plans to change if He wants them to...how to best feed our family...prayer before a phone call asking for our words to glorify God...prayer before we get out of bed to be the mom and wife we need to be. The list is endless.
God reminded me last night of how important prayer was to me when I was 9. We had Family Night last night at our county fair and during the obstacle course for 8-11 yr olds, they had to dribble a soccer ball with their feet between cones, roll under 2 boards, spin around in circles w/ a baseball bat, throw a baseball in a small square box and then hit a ball off a tee through a hole that was about 18" by 18". I thought the hitting with the baseball bat was going to be a challenge for Hosanna, but she grabbed the bat and got it on her first swing! Some of the older teen boys were taking 4 and 5 attempts.
When she got to her seat all smiles I said, "Hosanna, how did you hit it through on the first swing?" Her reply, "I prayed!"
WOW. How simple. She was nervous, she was unsure if she could do something, so she asked her Daddy God for help!
Some might think (falsely) That God couldn't possibly care about a 9 yr old little girl getting a baseball through a sqaure, but you know what? He cares because she cares. He loves her so what matters to Hosanna, matters to Him!!
Why do we "mature" adults often fail to remember this? We turn to worry, fear, doctors, google anything but praying to our Daddy God to help us!
Then I remembered what I used to do when I was 9. My half brother lived with us for a few years when I was 9-11 and he was signing up for baseball. I had been collecting baseball cards and watching Major League Baseball for years, so when my parents offered to let me sign up for softball, I was so excited. The first day of practice, I'll never forget, the coach asked me what position I thought I might like, and I said, without a doubt, Pitcher! My favorite baseball player then was Fernando Venezuela of the LA Dodgers. (I have no idea why...I think I liked saying his name) I was the smallest on the team and I remember they looked at me funny but decided to let me try. I began that practice, with a habit that continued the ENTIRE season. EVERY SINGLE Pitch I prayed. I still remember. I'd concentrate on the catcher glove, As I started my wind up, I'd say "Dear Lord, please help this be a strike...and as I released the ball I said, AMEN" (All in my head) EVERY SINGLE Pitch.
I didn't realize it til today that that season, despite no experience and being small, I was their star pitcher. THey said they had never seen a small kid that accurate. We moved shortly after that season, and I realize now, looking back that I didn't pray when I was on the next team. I had gained confidence in my own ability and, though I was still a decent pitcher, I wasn't as accurate (or as humble) as that first year on my team called Paradyne with blue and white stripes. The next team, appropriately named the Stars, I felt I was one and didn't petition God on every pitch.
That taught me such a huge lesson today when I was thinking about Terrestria and thinking about pitching.
My dependence, knowing the success of each pitch depended on God when I was 9, and how by 10/11, I was trusting in self.
How often we Christians do that today. We don't have the awe and the awareness that in every single pitch in life we NEED God to be in it...the same seemed to happen at first in motherhood. The first year with my first born was so hard and I remember praying so much, then I had 2 relatively easy babies in a row. I don't remember crying out to God quite as much--------until I had a super fussy baby #4 the same month we moved to a new state. I felt overwhelmed and outnumbered. I remember literally crying "God, there is so many of them and one of me...I can't do this." and I felt Him tell me, "This is where I've wanted you all along....depending on Me to help you." And since then, I have relied on prayer to make me the wife and mom that I need to be. I absolutely could not do my job without always having God to talk to and seek wisdom of or just to feel His presence. It's not long hours of prayer though, it's a mentality of praying about everything. Little 5 second prayers of thanks, of asking for patience or wisdom, of asking God to help me be thankful when I feel like griping.
It has been some great reflection time of the seasons of prayer in my life this week. I pray that I do even better and get back to praying like a 9 year old softball pitcher.
Comments
Aug. 6, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Misti,
Great Post!!
Maria
Aug. 6, 2009 - Amen!
Posted by seasonsmom
How true! Thank you for encouraging me in my walk! Love you, N
Aug. 7, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Great post Misti!
:) Janet
Aug. 13, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by nathalie
Cyrus and I are on the 2nd book "Quest for Seven Castles". We are really enjoying it. Thanks for recommending them. I"m certainly learning a lot from these books.
Aug. 17, 2009 - WE LOVE that series!
Posted by Anonymous
Thank you for turning us on to it! Katy ate them up as fast as she could. Her excitement was so great that I started reading them!
