Praying on Behalf of Someone Else

 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife, Rebekah, became pregnant.  Genesis 25:21 NIV Bible

This wasn't exactly the same, but somewhat similar. I overheard someone describing a terrible on-going situation at their work, where this person continually felt harassed by someone in a position of authority, without any valid reason. 

I remembered a time about 40 years ago, when I worked with a supervisor like this. I tried so hard to please this supervisor, but she continually berated me, regardless of what I did. It stood in distinct contrast to my previous supervisor, who had been so supportive and who treated me with the respect any employee deserves. I found myself near to tears with the disgruntled supervisor! I didn't want her to see me crying, because some view it as a sign of weakness. So, I would go into the bathroom and cry quietly while I prayed. I would ask the Lord God to bless her and for her to feel His healing touch in her life. 

And you know what? Every time I would return from that bathroom, she would be less antagonistic toward me. Although I didn't share this with the person talking about the less than supportive supervisor, I realized that I could still pray the same thing for this person's supervisor, just like I did 40 years ago. So, I prayed for the Lord God to bless the supervisor and for her to feel His healing touch in her life. Although I may never know if it made a difference, the Lord God listens to our prayers and knows what's needed. It most certainly can't hurt, and it quite possibly might help!

The Lord God Answered My Prayer

 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer.  Ezra 8:23 NIV Bible

Although this doesn't exactly relate to what they were praying about in Ezra, the topic of this passage is very similar! In the last few posts that I scheduled for Christian Overeaters Past and Present Blog, a common theme was coming up. At some point, in several of these posts, it came to mind that I need to be more prayerful about sharing my faith in Christ with others. 

Sure, I share my faith in Christ, with those who read any of the Christian blogs the Lord had on my heart to write, but that's sharing my faith in a relatively risk-free manner. I am doing this in the safety of my house, away from others who might look down on me for sharing my faith. It was on my heart that I needed to pray about being more open to take the risks to share my faith. So, I did, although I do have to admit and didn't consistently pray about it, but only every now-and-then. Fortunately, Jesus Christ listens all the time!

Interestingly, it wasn't something I planned out like: first I'm going to say this, then I'm going to say that. In the last few weeks, about five or six situations popped up when I was with others, where it was on my heart to share something about how the Lord God works in my life, related to my weight loss, related to how He works in my life, and gives me this sense of calm instead of self-loathing, etc. I don't really think I shared the self-loathing part, although I used to feel that way. I just shared the part about how Christ has given me this sense of calm in my life and what it a difference it makes. Although I was worried they might turn up their nose at me, they didn't. But even if they had, I should have been willing to take that risk, because Jesus Christ took such a BIG risk for me and for you, when He gave His life freely on the cross for us!

A Time to Hold Them and a Time to Fold Them!

The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them [tight.] Proverbs 5:22 NIV Bible

I don't always realize when I need to let go of old patterns. Sometimes, I say I'm frugal to a fault! I think it's a funny way to describe, my being thrifty, but it also rings true! There are times when I have penny pinched situations where it became uncomfortable, in fact, even embarrassing to family members. Sure, it's good for me to not spend carelessly, but there's a time to hold they patterns that ensnare us, and a time to let them go!

My faith in Christ as my Savior, it one of the most important things in my life! I've been blessed by His allowing an 80 pound weight loss, and for the vast majority of the weight to stay off for over 30 years. The thing is, sometimes I get over confident, because the Lord God is always there to remind me when I start slip sliding into the old eating patterns that ensnared me for so many years. 

But there are times I tend to take Him and His redeeming love for granted and don't appreciate all He's done for me. I am reluctant to share my faith with others face-to-face, for fear of rejection. Fortunately for me, the Lord God is both forgiving, and leads me to be the person that He wants me to be. I have to let go of those old fears of rejection that ensnare me and keep me from being the Christian, He wants me to be. I started to say that I have to continue to be more prayerful about this, put if the truth be told, I pray about a lot of things and a lot of people, but I rarely pray about asking Christ to free me from those fears that ensnare me and keep me for taking the risks necessary to share my faith!

A Time to Let Go

But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you unless a might hand compels him. Exodus 3:19 NIV Bible

I was thinking that there's a time to let go. I time to let go of old habits, especially bad ones. A time to let go of relationships, especially bad ones. A time to let go of fears, especially bad ones. A time to let go of trying to be in charge of everyone and everything. That's one of my worst bad habits!

I have many habits, some aren't so bad, but letting go of my compulsive overeating was a bad one. With the mighty hand of God, I was compelled to change. This has changed my life, far beyond any amount of weight lost! It ties into my self-esteem, but even more than that, it ties into my relationship with the Lord God! I have let go of some relationships over the years, especially the bad ones!  Somehow, I thought I was deserving of their poor treatment of me. With the mighty hand of God, I was compelled to change. I'm so thankful for the healthy relationships with those in my life! 

Now, letting go to trying to be in charge of everyone and everything, is whole other story! I think I'm letting go of my need to be in control, but I find that I backslide on this one, even more than when I've fallen back into old eating patterns. The thing is, if I remember that With the mighty hand of God, I was compelled to change, my unhealthy eating patterns, I was freed from this. I have to remember to turn to the Lord God, when I find myself slipping back into my old control mode, that feels comfortable, because I did it for so many years. Because, With the mighty hand of God, I can be compelled to change!