Prayers

---

My Conversation with God

Fourteen year old Sarah sat in her window seat thinking about her father's words, "Sarah, since we moved to London, you've changed. You are no longer interested in helping us in our mission to reach the lost. You are either at Brittainy's house or texting her from your room, and you rarely talk to your Mom and me. What is going on?"

As she sat gazing at the stars, Sarah realized that her father was right. She had changed. "Jesus, she prayed, "are you still there? I want to hear from you, but the confusion and noise is so loud in my head…everything is new, this city, the school, my friends…life is spinning out of control. Sarah longed to feel the warmth of God's love and the safe, secure feeling she had known with her family. Instead she felt numb.

She went to her bed and turned on the light. On the bed stand was a book her parents had given her for her birthday. Its title caught her eye. Promise Finder. She picked up the book. Maybe I can find some answers in this book, she thought. She leaned back and began leafing through the topics: ABANDONMENT, ABUSE, ACCEPTANCE. So where do I fit into this book of problems? Sarah wondered. She turned some more pages…FAILURE…Ooo, there I am, she thought. Yes, I'm a failure. "God," she prayed aloud, "do you still love me?"

Sarah read the verses --This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, (that must mean Jesus, she thought) for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:15-16

Suddenly Sarah felt the presence of the Lord all around her. Tears filled her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. "Jesus, you understand. And you still love me in spite of the way I've been treating you!" she prayed. "Please forgive me." Rolling over on her face, Sarah sobbed out her grief and sorrow and asked the Lord for strength to be the Christian she had always wanted to be.

Sunlight filled Sarah's room when she awoke the next morning. For a moment she wondered why she was not snuggled inside her covers. Then she remembered how she had sobbed herself to sleep. Something is different, she thought. And then she felt the peaceful presence of God wrap itself around her once again. "Good morning, Lord," she prayed. "I love you."

Sarah sat up and grabbed the Promise Finder. She wondered what God wanted to say to her today, now that she was on speaking terms with Him again. The book fell open to FORGIVENESS…Sarah read, If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. I John 1:8-9. "Yes," she said aloud. "I'm forgiven and I'm cleansed from every wrong. That's how I feel-- clean."

"Father, what else do you want to say to me today?" Hungrily Sarah began leafing through the book for more words from the Lord. The word MISSION caught her eye and she read, You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last. John 15:16.

"You chose me, God?" she prayed aloud, "And appointed me? I never knew that! Jesus, I choose you, too. I want to live for you the rest of my life!"

Later that morning Sarah sat in front of the computer with the Promise Finder. At youth camp they had encouraged everyone to begin journaling, writing their requests and questions for God as well as God's answers to prayer. "Then you can see what God has done right there on paper," her counselor had said. "It will be sure to strengthen your faith."

She opened a document and typed, Jesus, I'm so glad we are on speaking terms again. Do you have something you want to say to me today? She opened her book and leafed through the pages until she saw the topic, PRAYER. Sarah typed, The eyes of the Lord watches over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers I Peter 3:12.

Oh, she typed, you're here and listening to me right now! Jesus, I know you want me to tell my best friend about you, but I'm scared. Will you help me? She opened the book and prayed that God would speak to her again. On page thirty-one, she found the word COURAGE. That's just what I need, she thought, courage. Sarah typed, Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41: 10.

All right, Father, she typed, if you are going to hold me up, then I think can talk to Brittainy about you. Is there anything else you want to say? With that she began to turn pages again. She felt compelled to stop at the word GUIDANCE and read the verse. It was Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." She typed it into her journal.

"Sarah, it's almost time for lunch," called her Mom from the kitchen. Sarah started to save her journal on the computer, but she didn't have a title for it. She read over what she had just typed. "Wow!" she said aloud. I just had a conversation with God!" She clicked on "file", then "save as" and typed, My Conversation with God.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE