We can't deny it

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:13

Over a year ago, we started a weekly tradition in our house. We got a large dry-erase board, various colors of markers to go with it, and made a family prayer board. We would take it down once a week and update it, adding new prayer requests, sharing updates on requests from the week before, listing praises and answered prayers, and then praying together as a family over the board. It opened our eyes to the struggles of those we love, and gave us a forum to share our worries and joys with each other. We hung the board where we all walk by it daily and prayed throughout the week for everything on the board, adding updates and new requests as they arose. The board even became a subject of interest at our LifeGroup as members noticed their names and were able to see in a very tangible way that we pray for them daily.

Over time, we became unfaithful with our prayer board. Two weeks between updates grew to four, then eight, then before long we realized we hadn't taken it down and updated it in months. We kept talking about the board, praying over the requests, but we just never got around to updating it. This afternoon as I walked past it while cleaning for LifeGroup, I started reading some of the requests written there and realized many of them had been answered. After LifeGroup, Cory and I took the board down for a closer look. The date at the top of the board, designating our last update, read October 25, 2011. Yet, while examining those 'old' prayer requests and realizing just how long we had been unfaithful to keeping it up, we also noticed clear evidence of God's never-ending faithfulness.

We went through the list, talking about each request and comparing what we had prayed for with where the situations/people/lives were now. Of the 76 requests written on that board almost a year ago, we realized that 50 had been directly answered. FIFTY!! In looking at those prayers, we saw friends deliver a healthy preemie baby who is perfect, struggling families grow together in Christ, a child healed after complete liver failure, a woman healed of cancer, our church staff strengthened, and our own weaknesses being overcome by fruits of the spirit. We saw prayers answered in unexpected ways, too - ailing family members and friends now rejoicing in heaven instead of living in pain on earth, jobs not received and better opportunities taking their place, friends drifting away so new ones could step in. In October, we were praying for one family's foster children, and now we're awaiting the impending arrival of their THREE adopted children from Haiti! One of our biggest requests - for Cory to find a full-time job, was answered just this week.

We were unfaithful. We didn't keep our commitment, and we faltered in our attempt to unite our family in prayer. We did nothing to deserve having those prayers answered.

And yet here we are, looking at 50 answered prayers, all because our God is faithful no matter what. It takes my breath away, humbles me, and brings me to my knees in awe and thankfulness. All I can say is AMEN!! And let me tell you, that kind of faithfulness DESERVES a lot of amens - that's what the comments section is for. :-) May I be more faithful in the future, and may I always stand amazed at the goodness and faithfulness of my God. Can I get an amen?!?