Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to “Joni and Friends”.
And I love to hear my husband, Ken, pray for me. Ken knows I need a lot of prayer and for that, I am so grateful. Because he knows, and I know, my paralysis can be a real pain and this wheelchair can be so tiring. To be honest, when I feel slump-shouldered, I do occasionally feel like caving in. Sometimes I look at the future and frankly it frightens me, because things aren't going to get easier. I know they're going to get more difficult, more painful sitting in this wheelchair in years to come. But, thankfully, when I feel like this, my husband and I know enough to head to God's Word.
And, the other day we were reading in the book of Acts, and we came across a most remarkable prayer. It's in Acts chapter 4 where Peter and John had just been released from jail. The whole town was in an uproar and their lives were hanging in the balance. The religious leaders were breathing threats and their future looked doubtful. Now here's the thing -- notice this:
When Peter and John gathered with their Christian friends, this is what they prayed. Starting in the 24th verse, they prayed, "Oh, sovereign Lord!" well, Ken and I looked at each other and immediately I was struck with how often I begin praying, "Oh God, help me." But they began, "Oh God, you're in control!" Yes, things look fearful; yes, their world seemed to be caving in - but, my goodness, the way those early Christians clung to God's sovereignty saying, "God, we know that you are in control!" And, did that speak to me! And that's not all. The rest of the prayer was just as remarkable, because they didn't ask God to give them protection or to shield them from danger. They didn't ask God to defeat the religious leaders or stop the plans of wicked men. Instead, they prayed God would make them bold and courageous. They asked God to keep them strong; that they wouldn't retreat or be cowards, or shrink away from fear. Now that teaches us how to pray.
Because when I'm feeling overwhelmed, I've got to remember - you've got to remember - that first, God is in control. Say with me, "Oh sovereign Lord." And next, remember that God has already promised us His protection; He safeguards His people. I need to pray that I won't be a coward - when my paralysis crushes my spirit or my wheelchair diminishes my joy, I must not run away from the trial or shrink back from the test. Oh, sovereign Lord, help me to remain strong and steadfast. Don't let my heart cave in or my emotions collapse. I want to look at my future with an Ephesians 6 attitude which says, "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."
So friend, I hope that's an encouragement to you today if you're feeling a little slump-shouldered. Let's you and I be like those Christians who prayed with Peter and John right after they got out of jail and had bad news facing them all sides. May God help us all be brave and bold. And I will add one more thing here – especially to you special-needs fathers who might be listening in. You need to be brave. You need to trust God with the future of your child with a disability. If you are raising a kid with special needs, let me offer you a word of courage: visit my radio page today at joniandfriends.org and there you will find information specifically written for you fathers of children with disabilities and it’s called, appropriately “Another Kind of Courage.” Hey, we need more of that, don’t we? Learn more about it today at joniandfriends.org.
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