Praying Peace

Okay, so I told you that I love Lysa TerKeurst’s ministry and blog. If you haven’t checked it out, do so. God has really equipped her with a powerful message for women. It is practical, entertaining, and above all it's life changing. About a week ago she had a great post about praying a one-word prayer for each of her children over the course of the year.

Immediately I loved the idea. Simple. I can do simple. I began to reflect on Axl. What one word would embody my hearts desire for him in the upcoming year? Peace. Maybe contentment. He’s a little high strung, much like his mother, so definitely peace or maybe contentment. See how I like to take simple and make it complicated. Maybe I could modify the idea and make it two words: peace AND contentment. And so went my mind reeling for a couple of days over the very important decision between peace and contentment. Peace comes with contentment, so it should be contentment. Contentment seems limiting, so it should be peace. I know. Please tell me you’re like this too…

In the end, it was clear that my prayer for Axl this year was simply peace. God confirmed it in an amazingly sweet way. As Warren and I were headed to the airport Saturday morning, Warren prayed about our trip and for Axl who was staying home. I knew his prayer before it left his sweet lips, “God, please let Axl have peace while we are away.” I had not discussed with him at all the one-word prayer dilemma. Tears erupted and my heart swelled.

I call these moments “Sticky Notes From Jesus.” They’re not sea splitting miracles of life, but they are small gestures that remind us that Jesus is ever present in the details of our lives. Have you ever gotten a sticky note from a spouse or loved one? They always seem to show up at just the right moment. The thing I love most about sticky notes is the planning involved. Whether they’re tucked in a book, a lunchbox, or placed on the bathroom mirror, someone had to have the forethought to get it there. The same is true about sticky notes from Jesus. He sees our lives, knows our struggles, and knows the precise moment to reach down and say, “Hey, just wanted you to know that I get your concern over peace or contentment. I think Peace. I Love You. Signed, Jesus.”

I believe that sticky notes from Jesus are all around us. I believe they come in the form of front row parking spaces, favorite songs on the radio, and the words of those we encounter on a daily basis. Jesus is speaking, in fact, He is screaming, “I know you. I love you. I care.”

Be on the lookout. I pray that today you will find a sticky note from Jesus.

With much love,

Tonya