A Night of Prayer

 Luke 16:12
"It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God."

I wrote him a little note and tucked it under his special blanket which was neatly folded by his pillow. It read.."Tonight I will be praying that God helps you with piano and reading.  These are your two favorite things to do and a gift that God gives your heart to learn, and to bless others."  The next note I left went under a big pillow. It read "Tonight I am praying that God grows you in confidence and hope as you are a husband, papa, and friend. You are an amazing man and I am blessed by your heart"

I then laid down and slept for several hours into the evening before getting up and going at midnight to be part of A night of Prayer with the lovely ladies from my church.

I walked into a building with hundreds of ladies committed to praying through the night for our families, our church, our leaders, and the community. As the evening progressed, and hearts shared in our small groups my heart just filled with so much joy.  Young and old we all gathered.  The hearts of women who know God can do more and praying for more and knowing that we truly can move the hand of God.

There were many things about the night that moved my heart through out the night.  I was home by 6:00am and snuggled into a bonus room bed, already made up so I could slumber in peace.  I woke to the smells of a late breakfast David had made, and as the boys went off to play I shared the evening with him.  My tears surfaced when I shared the part of eating breakfast in the middle of the night. This time moved my heart.  The time to sit and visit, ask questions and listening to what God was doing that night. Listening to  how He was already making a difference in this young heart, or that heart.  One precious gal came over and chatted with me. On her way to sit with friends, she ate her breakfast standing up, sharing things from her heart and tears surfacing as her heart to was blessed by what God was doing.

God often wakes me up in the middle of the night.  I know it's God because I don't have to use the potty, I am not stressed out, I have this peace as I lay there, and then I move to another part of the house with my Bible and journal and the prayers of His heart are sent to mine.  I love this passage:

Psalm 16:7
"I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed my mind instructs me in the night"

In this night of prayer God has instructed me once again. In ways that will unfold as the days come and go.  I know to many, I tend to be this quirky Christian who can not let a day pass without acknowledging His presence in my life. It is a supernatural kind of relationship and in one night of staying up, drinking fabulous coffee, and eating sweet rolls my health is restored to my family. No sleepy or cranky mom.  A restored, a renewed, and a heart that surrenders to Him all that I have...starting with two notes written to two family members that God made priority to my heart that Night of Prayer.