Calling Me To Prayer

“Those persons who know the deep peace of God, the unfathomable peace that passeth all understanding, are always men and women of much prayer.”~ R. A. Torrey

I felt the Lord calling me to prayer this morning.  I, like a spoiled child, ignored it, rolled over and went back to sleep only to be nudged again by the Lord calling me to prayer. Uncomfortable at this point I finally said, "Here am I, Lord. Speak fore I know that you are guiding my foot steps."

While waiting for the coffee, I checked my messages and saw that a young relative of a friend had taken their life over the weekend.  Without a doubt in my mind, I knew immediately why the Lord wanted me to get up and pray. 

It is very sad when a family member dies of natural causes but it even more tragic when that family member takes their own life.  I was wondering what would make someone just give up? What could be so painful, so terrible that the only alternative in your mind would be to end your own life?  

Apparently, I have forgotten. The distance that the Lord has brought me and kept me is yet a distant memory. I forgot about that place of darkness, that alone space. I forgot about that closed in place without windows or doors that I had once found myself in.  That choking unable to breathe time when all seemd to stop. No progress. No hope. No joy.

I don't even remember how I happened to find myself in that place of wanting to end my life at one time. Was it one thing that happened? Perhaps it was a history of pain and disappointement. Was it feelings of failure and unlovableness that built up to over-flowing on one particular day, at that God forsaken time.  That time when my thoughts had convinced me that it was over and done with.  Finished.

Thinking now of the future.  Does it make any kind of sense His love for me? No, because of His grace I am still here, loving, laughing, being me.  What a glorious time! Without a doubt this marvelous light in which I travel would not be without Him first capturing me.  He grabbed hold before I could do something that could not be taken back.  He has given me purpose and each day it becomes more and more clear how I am to walk in that purpose.

Waking up in the morning is purpose.  Breathing is purpose.  Just living is purpose. Each life is a testimony to His greatness, His love and His power.  Somebody needs to know.

So when I think about the young person that committed suicide this past weekend I am also taking a vow to not take for granted the lives of people around me.  The person next to me, including family members, might be boxed in that place without windows or doors and is about to give up and they may not be able to reach the light, that place of safety, in time.

It is my blessing my purpose today to let somebody know that they are not alone.  What God has done for me , He will do for you.  There is nothing so wrong that cannot be corrected and there is no devil in hell that cannot be silenced.

We are our brother's keeper and we are all being called to prayer one for another.

(c) 2014, Debi Mason, Oakland, CA, USA