An Answered Prayer

The day dawned cool and cloudy, dropping a cold Rocky Mountain drizzle in parts of the city. I would find out in just a few hours how annoying those dark clouds could become.

Part of our goal at Elohim Prayer Beads is to help you learn how to pray according to Scripture. We hear time and again how people find it difficult or intimidating to go before God and simply lay out their hearts. After all, He is the Creator of the universe. It is easy to get tongue tied when you consider His magnificence.

In truth, prayer is simply talking to God as you would to a trusted friend. Matthew 6:8 and Hebrews 4:12 tell us He already knows our needs, our desires, and our thoughts. As a father who delights in his children, He longs to hear us share all this with Him.

As a tool in our teaching prayer, we will soon be offering very unique prayer beads. I met with Carol this afternoon to go over our designs and put several strands together. These bead strands each have a specific prayer focus and Scriptural prayer that goes with them. We have worked for several weeks to find exactly the right beads and combination of Scripture to offer as you go before the Lord.

But we have met with opposition. Like the low clouds blocking the sun this morning, we have felt stifled in our efforts to move forward.

Some would say this opposition is coincidence, and some would say it's just life. Others (read: Carol and Shelley) would declare an attack from Satan. Remember, we do not fight against flesh and blood. Whatever your theology on opposition in serving God, we have battled situations that include the wrong color beads. Beads too big or two small. Beads that are too lightweight or too heavy. Beads that break or don't stay on the strand. This week we received a shipment of thousands of beads that were not what we ordered and can not be used.

In spite of the appearance of things, we declared victory and determined to move on with our plans to serve you and the Lord. A trip to our local craft store brought us in touch - literally - with beautiful beads that we have loved working with in the past. We approached the clerk to ask about ordering in bulk. As we spoke, a new employee told us about a wholesale bead catalog that she receives in the mail each quarter. She excitedly told us she will give us her copy and we can order any bead that crosses our minds.

Driving away from the store, the sun broke through the clouds. Bright light shone over us and we felt God say, "I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are My people’" (Isaiah 51:16).

Victory, indeed!

Do you have an answer to prayer? Share it with us!

Many blessings on you,
Shelley