Jesus on the Journey

Sevierville, Tennessee

Women’s Retreat

Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning

, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice.

What started out as a fun road trip experience rapidly transformed into a desperate prayer one warm summer day in September as a mother and I made our way up to the cabin where we would hold our first women’s retreat.

We arrived at the cabin, where the cleaners were still cleaning.  We saw a library about seven minutes away and decided to wait there until the cleaning was done. While we were waiting, we noticed a green liquid trickling out of the van.  We both concluded that it was the antifreeze which began to pool on the ground. Do you think we can make it back to the cabin?  

In that moment, we heard a female voice in the car next to us ask where we were going.  She happened to be from the area.  We explained we were headed for a cabin and described which one.  She asked us if we had any water and told us to pore several of the bottles into the radiator.  We were told to turn the heat on full blast.  She thought we could make it back to the cabin.

What are the odds of someone pulling up in that moment that knew what to do? We made it back to the cabin where we told the other women what had transpired. We prayed over the situation and continued our retreat as planned. We had the best time.  The spirit of God was with us on the trip and blessed our fellowship and relationship with each other.  

The day before we were scheduled to leave one of the other women went to Walmart to buy us some antifreeze.  That morning we loaded our vehicles, put the antifreeze in the van, prayed, and left for Georgia. We made one stop to get gas.  Mother asked if I thought the antifreeze was leaking out.  I looked under the van to check.  Everything was dry and I prayed again to thank God for holding the antifreeze.  I asked him to help us to make it back to Georgia and to our church service on time.  

Psalm 66:20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Do you know that the van did not run hot at any time on the way back to Georgia.  We made it all the way to our exit and the hot cold meter looked as if it may change to hot. And I prayed once again to the God that had carried us this far to help us make it to the church parking lot.  We made it to the church parking lot and all the antifreeze came out as soon as we parked. I fell to the ground crying (the ugly cry) giving God thanks and praise for answering our prayers.  The other church members thought there was a medical problem happening.  I could not stop the tears the whole service.  I had experienced the power of God in a new way.  This was a transformative moment for me.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

This moment changed the way I looked at God.  It increased my belief, my faith, and my trust in God.  It also improved my prayer life.  

We can get into a habit of prayer where we do it because it's what were supposed to do rather than doing it to have an open dialogue with God.  My relationship with God has shifted through prayer.  If the prayers of the righteous avail much, what might the choices of our words mean when we pray.  James 5:16

I am more thoughtful and specific now that I know that God truly answers prayer.  Now that I have witness the power of God, I know that the spirit of God is alive through Jesus Christ. When you experience God through answered prayer it gives you confidence in the scripture that he hears us. I am forever changed. I invite you to pray continuously with belief in hope through Christ Jesus and in active patience.

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

What does your prayer life look like?  How often do you pray? Are you distracted when you pray? These are questions I have asked myself to make small changes that create a lasting impact in the way I pray which affects my relationship with Christ.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.” ― Kahill Gibran, The Prophet

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