Prayer As A Privilege
‘What a privilege to carry everything to the Lord in prayer!’
How true are these words from the well known hymn ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus’.
In the evening after dinner my husband and I settle down to watch TV with some fruit and chocolates by our side. When our sons call us, the TV goes on pause and we enjoy their chatter. Sometimes we have video calls, like last week, when little Nivin, our grandson in India actually called both of us ‘Thatha and Paatti’ for the first time (Grandma and Grandpa in Tamil, our home language)! That made our day! Sometimes our daughter in law, Christina, shows us how she has arranged the room or what dish she made. Mike, our son, tells us of the new, fun things he and two year old Nivn are doing now, when he has a break from work.
Meshak, our younger son who designs race cars in the UK, calls us later in the day. We love to hear about his work on the design, his workmates, his wind tunnel experience and sometimes his cooking experiments.
When we hear about the challenges they are facing, the problems in their part of the world, of any pain or sickness, we know we can be praying for them.
God’s love for us is unfailing (Psalm 90:14b) and it endures forever (Psalm 106:1b). His love is nothing compared to our love for our children or loved ones..
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”- Ephesians 3:18b NIV
“The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them.” Psalm 34:17a
When we share our joys and sorrows, our ups and downs with God, he loves it. When we talk to someone we love, we don’t plan our words, we open our hearts to them. I remember rushing back from school as a young girl so excited to share my happy stories and school experiences with my mother. Amma was such a good listener and I knew I would never be judged. It is the same with our God.
I love to talk to God on my walk, at a cafe, with my coffee, in our lounge in the quietness of daybreak and sometimes even when I am cooking! You can talk to God anywhere- in the toilet and yes even in the car. Isn't that such a privilege?
Let us not take that lightly.
Speak Lord in the stillness
As I wait on Thee
Hushed my heart to listen
In expectancy.
This is a song I learnt from my hymn book. I often start the day on the piano singing this verse. You may want to learn it and sing it too. Here is a link to the hymn, though the words are slightly different.
Speak Lord In The Stillness Video
“Let us praise God with music and song.”-Psalm 95:2b NIV
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shoba Ranjitsingh is an architect, writer, a proud mother and an absolutely thrilled grandma to little Nivin. Shoba enjoys studying the Bible and her role as STL at Bible Study Fellowship in Auckland in NZ for 6 years has enabled her to now write and lead Women's Bible Studies. Helping women study and enjoy God's Word as they embrace everyday ordinary life is her prayer as a writer. Long walks, cakes, hymns, books, quiet family evenings, chatting with family across oceans describe Shoba. In this phase of life, Ranjit and Shoba enjoy feeding the birds, smelling the roses, pursuing their hobbies and being grateful for all that God has called them to do. Shoba works as a Learning Support in a Primary School in Auckland and everything simple, honest and true bring her joy!