Like many of you, I am often asked to pray for people.
Students often ask me to pray that they pass a test or get a good grade on an
assignment. Sometimes someone asks me to pray that they get a new job, or that
they win the lottery. Most of the time, I get asked to pray that someone can
lose weight. Obviously, as a woman of
faith, I am a firmer believer that prayer changes things, but I’ve learned over
the years that prayer is not a magic potent that removes my responsibility from
the equation. Let me elaborate….
When asked by a student to pray that he passes his test,
before answering him, I usually ask him this: “Did you study for the exam? Did
you read the materials? Have you been going to class?” If he responds, “YES,” then my response is
typically, “Sure, I’ll pray for you….but I’m not going to pray that you get an
A on the test; I’m going to pray that God will help you remember what you
read/learned/studied and that you do the best you can on the test.” Sometimes the student looks at me with a
blank stare and I explain further that I am not going to ask God to pass the
test for him but rather, I will ask God to help HIM during the exam….because he
(student) has responsibility in the outcome.
IF he had not prepared for the test, and I told him I would pray for
him, and then he failed the test because he didn’t study, then the student’s
faith in God would be altered. Geez, Theresa, God let me down; I failed the
test. NO, God didn’t let you down…..You
let yourself down by not preparing and studying for the exam. In my version of the prayer, his outcome on
the test becomes a partnership between God and the student.
The same situation regarding winning the lottery or getting
a good paying job. I never…ever…am going
to pray that someone wins the lottery or a raffle….or a baseball game or any
other type of contest. I won’t even pray that way for MYSELF. I do pray,
however, that God will prosper the work of my hands….that will give me the
insight, energy, work ethic, desire…to work hard, to be industrious, to do my
best….at work, or in a game or contest, or on a project. I pray that God will
lead me to opportunities to share my story and will open the doors that He
desires for me (someday that may lead to a bigger income or to writing a book,
who knows?) I will pray that a person
prospers….or practices good sportsmanship or plays to the best of his/her ability….but
if one wants to increase his/her income or become rich (no harm in that, I suppose)
then my prayer might be that he/she is able to do well in an interview and get
a higher paying job. There is no EASY
way out in this life; at least I’ve never found one! Certainly there are those individuals in this
world that seem to have been born with a silver spoon in their mouth….born into
a rich family….athletically gifted or extremely intelligent…..but most of the people
I know that have become successful in life (however YOU define that….money? Nah, not me.
Fame? Nope, don’t care about that either. Great athlete/awards/trophies?
Never won a trophy for any of that) have done so because they have worked VERY
HARD in life. Your grandpa or dad was probably a very hard worker…maybe working
30+ years at the same factory job, day in and day out….and now is enjoying
retirement comfortably….but worked long hours in tough conditions, scrimped and
saved over the years, and is now reaping the rewards of years of a strong work
ethic. Those college/professional athletes,
Olympic stars, singers/dancers…whatever…. put hours and hours of practice in to
develop their talent. Most people have to WORK HARD to reap results. So sure, I’ll pray that their hard work pays
off….but not that they will just be HANDED a million dollars.
I especially feel this way about praying for a person to
lose weight or make a big life change. I
have never prayed that I would get thin; nor will I pray that anyone else
does. Rather….every day….I pray about my
journey and I ask for God’s grace to continue on this road to wellness. My
prayer, for me….and for you too…. is always, first and foremost, one of
GRATITUDE…(even when I was 400 pounds….and 300 pounds…and 200 pounds) Every day I thank God for paying the price
for this victory….(I prayed that all along, even when I was extremely obese,
God had ALREADY won the battle on the cross; I just hadn’t fully embraced that)
and Thanking Him for supporting me on this journey…for setting me free from a
life of obesity/disability/emotional eating. I then ask that I be given the strength
to walk in that victory…..to stay motivated….to make healthy choices each day…..to
have the desire and the discipline to stay strong. I also pray that God will replace the
temptation/desire/hunger in me for things that are not nourishing for my body……
sugar and junk food….with a hunger/desire to do good; to help others; to stay
focused; to be a better, kinder, more loving person, etc. I ask God to remove the temptation to eat
when I am not hungry; when I am tired or stressed (all emotional eating)…and to
eat only those things that my body needs to function well and remain strong. I ask Him to bring my body into line with
that perfect weight (whatever that is…might even be 200 pounds for some) that
He created me to be. God created each of us different, unique, and beautiful
and in all shape and sizes. What a boring world it would be if we all were 5
foot 8 inches tall and weighed 125 pounds. I have no desire to be a size 6…..I
just want to be healthy and to be at/maintain the weight that God
created/desires me to be. I’m not a
theologian but I don’t believe that God made me fat; nor did He make me
thinner. He allowed me to make the
choices that caused me to be 400+ pounds and he loved me then….and He helped me
make the choices/changes to lose weight….and he loves me now. So sure… I pray….every
day of this journey and give Him every single bit of the glory for this miracle
for without Him, none of it would be possible, but I did not…..and will not….pray
to become a size 6. You may have a different philosophy and that is okay with
me…because, although we are on this journey together, each one of us have a personal
walk and we all think differently.
So…..be assured that if you ask me to pray for you on your
journey, I absolutely will…..but I will pray for you as I pray for me….First….gratitude
for the blessings in your life. Then….I will pray that you are strong enough to
resist temptation…..motivated enough to keep working…..and that your hard
work/effort will be rewarded/reflected with the results that you want…..and
finally that God will use YOU….your struggles/triumphs to help others; and that
In and through your journey, He will be glorified.
Prayer Can/does bring about miracles….but your miracle is
from within…..how you think/feel/act….the kind of person you are transformed into
when you invite God into the equation……and THEN…that transformation is
reflected physically. Don’t give up on
your miracle….but perhaps…if you are struggling, you should think about HOW and
WHAT you are praying for.
Have a great day today………
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