FIRST TIMERS

Sometimes trying anything for the "very first time" can be oh so difficult, especially if you are only 4 years old. Even when you have rehearsed with Mommy, "Hi, my name is Jack. Nice to meet you."

Bright Adventures awaited. Teeth gritted. Tears trickled. A bit of muffled screams of "Don't leave me Mommy," ensued.

The long walk of a little boy with a (required) big backpack began. 

Two goodby squeezes from Mommy were allowed. The the teacher relented and allowed two more before directing him back to the "dinosaur" play area.

A little boy's first day of pre-school began. 

A grandmother, who was far away, put her GPS (Grandmother's Praying System) into action. 

Tears trickled from Tennessee as well......for this little first timer!

GPS---GRANDMOTHER'S PRAYING SYSTEM!

GPS.

Grandmother's Praying System. Used daily for best results helping them navigate life on God's terms. Grace-laced.

The beauty of prayer is that it knows no boundaries. I don't have to know the co-ordinates of their locations---God does. That truth is so comforting for one who has children and grandchildren in three different states. These states, Texas, New York and North Carolina, aren't anywhere near me.

For each family member, spouses included, I have a Proverb I pray for each of them. With the grandkids, it started the day we first heard of their impending birth to the day they were actually born....in God's timing, because most came "earlier" than doc's prediction. Some way early. We had one dawdler. 

As Colossians 1:9 says, "For this reason, (mine, not Paul's) since the day we (I) heard about you, we (I) have not stopped praying for you. We (I) continually ask God to fill you (all nine of you) with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding the Spirit gives. (parenthetical additions, mine)

Always desiring to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:18)

That's the operational goal of a Grandmother's Praying System.

Dichot-TEA-my of Prayer

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6, ESV)

Prayerfully mulling this..............Quite a conundrum for me at this point.

Continued mulling into the night.

How does one (a pray-er) reconcile this with other scripture?

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV) *

Isn't telling someone you have prayed for them a form of encouragement? But...doesn't sharing with others reveal the secrecy of the prayer?

Doesn't the apostle Paul, himself, write the people of Colosse that he gives thanks for them and will always pray for them?

...will not cease to pray for you, (Colossians 1:9)

Isn't intercessory prayer Paul's first exhortation to Timothy, as a leader of the church in Ephesus?

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; (1 Timothy 2:1)

The epistle scriptures seem inconsistent with Jesus' instructions in Matthew's verse, on the how to's of prayer.....but maybe it's not an "either /or" determination. Maybe they aren't mutually exclusive or contradictory. 

A true dichotomy? Maybe not opposites....just different??

Still mulling over my questioning cuppa dichot-TEA-my.

* 8/2 received email from Wynellen that answered one aspect of my questioning.

For me, encouragement comes when I know others have prayed for me. Pasted below is just the beginning of the email that listed prayers lifted not only for me but for each of my children and their families as well. I'm encouraged!!

Just finished praying for you.  I always catch up on your blog bf I pray so I can know what might be on your heart. Not sure about the emotions and tears Sunday, but thanked God for being El Roi- the God Who sees you and knows our cries. And then for the heritage you are leaving your children and grandchildren.......