This post is part of my lenten series: 40 prayers for
Russia's orphans. Won't you join us in lifting up some of the most
vulnerable children in our world today?
Day 27
They say the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. In my own life, God has been entirely faithful in the past. He has walked me through the valleys of my mom's illness, my long-distance marriage, and the difficult season of expectation I endured while waiting to bring Arie home. You'd think that after all that faithfulness on God's behalf, I'd have a really strong faith that God will guide me into the future.
But I often don't. I often worry and despair. Too often.
My husband suggested tonight that I read Psalm 85, a psalm that remembers God's faithfulness in the past and looks forward to it in the future. As I read, the first part of verse 12 stuck out to me: "The Lord will indeed give what is good."
Tonight, let us find peace in the truth that God will give us what is good and let us ask him specifically for a good gift for Russia's orphans: families.
*
Dear God,
You are one who sets the lonely in families. We praise you for that! We look to all the orphaned children you've set into families and we praise your name. We see the love that they now know and we name you as a God who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask. There are thousands of examples of your great love, walking around us; thousands of children who were once fatherless and who are now your children.
We ask first that you would become a spiritual father to every orphan in Russia. We ask second for the good gift of families for each child who waits. We do not despair even though this request seems so impossible. Instead, we pray with faith, knowing that you desire to give good gifts to your children.
That every child would know you and that every child would find a family. We present our requests to you, in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Day 27
They say the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. In my own life, God has been entirely faithful in the past. He has walked me through the valleys of my mom's illness, my long-distance marriage, and the difficult season of expectation I endured while waiting to bring Arie home. You'd think that after all that faithfulness on God's behalf, I'd have a really strong faith that God will guide me into the future.
But I often don't. I often worry and despair. Too often.
My husband suggested tonight that I read Psalm 85, a psalm that remembers God's faithfulness in the past and looks forward to it in the future. As I read, the first part of verse 12 stuck out to me: "The Lord will indeed give what is good."
Tonight, let us find peace in the truth that God will give us what is good and let us ask him specifically for a good gift for Russia's orphans: families.
*
Dear God,
You are one who sets the lonely in families. We praise you for that! We look to all the orphaned children you've set into families and we praise your name. We see the love that they now know and we name you as a God who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask. There are thousands of examples of your great love, walking around us; thousands of children who were once fatherless and who are now your children.
We ask first that you would become a spiritual father to every orphan in Russia. We ask second for the good gift of families for each child who waits. We do not despair even though this request seems so impossible. Instead, we pray with faith, knowing that you desire to give good gifts to your children.
That every child would know you and that every child would find a family. We present our requests to you, in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Jillian, I love these prayerful posts you've been writing. I so fervently hope and pray that Russia will reverse its ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian children! I know God cares very deeply about those precious children and I firmly believe that He will work miracles to allow adoptions again.
ReplyDeleteThis is unrelated... but I was wondering how Arie is doing with learning English? Does he still speak in Russian or is that happening less and less as time goes on?
Anyway, thank you so much for sharing your story with all of us. It has definitely laid on my heart the amazing gift and privilege of adoption! God bless you!