Living Life by Design

Growing up, I had a very close relationship with my grandmother whom I called, Mammaw. She was closer to me than either my mother or father. When I was around 13 my mom told me that Mammaw had fallen while sweeping her patio and broke her leg. I started to cry and immediately began to pray. I remember vividly my heartfelt prayer asking God not to take Mammaw away from me until I was 25, when (as an adult) I could handle it. She recovered from her broken leg and lived long enough to see me get get married. Shortly after, she died of cancer. I was 25.

Of course, it is not possible to prove the existence of God on the basis of answers to a child’s prayer, because cynics can always explain them away as mere coincidence. But throughout my life as a Christian it’s interesting how when I pray, coincidences happens. When I don’t pray, they don’t.

It is amazing to think back and remember the ways in which God has answered so many of my prayers. I’m ashamed to say how very easy it has been to forget all the answers to prayer. It is so easy to forget and take God’s blessings for granted.

There is so much to praise God for. In Psalm 103, David appears almost to be speaking to himself and urging himself on: ‘O my soul, bless God, from head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single blessing!’ (vv.1–2).

We have all faced difficulties in our lives. David was no exception having faced: sin, disease and ‘the pit’ (vv.3–4). Yet he, like the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 1:3), begins each encounter with God with heartfelt praise for so many of God’s benefits & blessings.

Shouldn’t we do the same…