This time of year, as women, many of us find ourselves in the ditch of despair anxiety, worry and overwhelm. We can feel the pressure of being the perfect wife, perfect mother…. daughter, sister, friend. But, like so many other situations in our lives, we have driven ourselves into the ditch needlessly.
We have this imaginary idea of perfection that we hold ourselves accountable to, an unachievable standard by which we think we are being measured. The truth is, all of this being, doing, striving is not what God intended for us. Yet, we continue that path and trajectory of trying to earn whatever it is we are looking for. We burn ourselves out and burn ourselves up, reaching for this ideal and this is the perfect time to remind ourselves, to give ourselves some grace, because God does.
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been save, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
In Scripture, the Apostle Paul points out that the way to this peace is through prayer. A peace that transcends all understanding. So, instead of constantly striving and wondering why we are exhausted, we need to pause and listen to what the Bible says.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
When our lives feel out of control and exhausted, that is the moment to stop and reflect on what is going on inside us and around us. Are we in alignment with God? It’s in the still quiet moments, talking with God, that we can exhale our overachieving spirit and inhale his spirit of love, peace, and grace. It’s already within us to tap into. We just need to open up our hands and receive it. It is a great time to question our hearts and minds about what we are seeking to accomplish and why. If it is peace we are after, then it is God we need to be running toward.
I have recently discovered a book entitled The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, the founder of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. It begins by telling the story of the legendary figure, the Circle Maker, Honi. Legend has it, that amid a terrible drought, Honi drew a circle around himself and planted himself there in prayer to God. He vowed to not leave that circle of prayer until God answered him. In praying through this nation’s drought, God’s answered Honi’s sincere, heartfelt prayer, providing the rain necessary to save them. The story of the Circle Maker stands as a testament to the power of a single prayer to change a desperate situation. We may not have a drought in our lives, but we have other needs and situations we are facing.
This story of Honi sparked an interest in the transformational power of prayer in Batterson, who then goes on to dig deeply into the recounting of the Israelties’ march around Jericho. God told the Israelites to circle the city wall for six days and on the seventh day to march around the city seven times. After the seven days of circling Jericho, God delivered on His promise by providing the first victory in the Promised Land. The wall around Jericho fell. The image of the Israelites circling Jericho is the backdrop for his book. He says, “for the Israelites, Jericho symbolized the fulfillment of a dream that originated with Abraham. It was the first step in claiming the Promised Land. It was a miracle they have been hoping for and waiting for their entire lives.”
We, too, can draw a circle of prayer around our lives and pray God’s promises over our lives. If we want peace that transcends all understanding, we must pray boldly for it. What is your Jericho? What miracle of victory do you need in your life?
As we take some time to reflect upon 2023 and answer some questions that I have for each of you, I urge each of us to make some goals for our lives moving forward. What better way to unearth the Jerichos in our lives. What miracle do you need? What dreams are in your heart? What area of your life do you desperately want to improve? What people and situations do you ache for God to transform? Draw a circle around it. Pray big, bold, God-sized, God-glorifying prayers that can only happen with His help, through His power.
God is looking for circle makers, who pray bold prayers that honor Him and only imagine what is possible with His help. The bigger the circle we draw, the more God gets the glory. Batterson points out that “in one way or another, your small, timid prayers, or big, audacious prayers will change the trajectory of your life.” He says, “ultimately, the transcript of your prayers become the script of your life.” When we are craving peace, drawing circles of prayer around us is the place to start. The more faith you have, the more specific your prayers will be.
Patterson says, “you can apply some of the principles you can learn in The Circle Maker and they may help you get what you want, but that is not the goal. The goal is glorifying God by drawing circles around the promises, miracles and dreams he wants for you.”
Take some time to reflect on what the goals are for 2024…. What is important to you and important to God? What can you do differently this year or perhaps do more of from last year? Here are some prompts.
Have a wonderful 2024.
Allison
A FRUITFUL LEGACY 