I've been amazed by the power of prayer lately. Prayer has been somewhat of an enigma for me. And I think I've had this fear and doubt when it comes to prayer. God has been building my faith.

After a long stretch of living by sight and living within our means and meager strength, God asked us to live by faith. I'm referring mostly to moving to W. Chicago for the summer. As faith test after faith test came up, it seemed like nothing would happen until we got people praying. I was so desperate to find a subleaser...and we needed to find one fast (within a month and a half) and it seemed like it wasn't until after we asked a bunch of people to be praying for us that we found a subleaser. Same with finding a place to live in W. Chicago; where that is concerned, God gave us everything we asked for, (because of Mike's dad's faith, I think.) And then at the end of last week, I had this health concern that I asked for a bunch of prayer for--mainly for my state-of-mind that I would not worry. Before I asked for prayer, I was a nervous wreck. Afterwards, I have been happy and peaceful, and I didn't even know how this health concern would turn out.  (Praise God everything seems to be fine.) 

But those are 3 things that have happened all within the past month or two--three pretty big things in my mind, where God has really come through, I think because of prayer. Because we had righteous people praying for us.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise...And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up...Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (James 5:13,15-18, ESV)

Elijah was like you and me--"a man with a nature like ours" and he "prayed fervently that it might not rain, and...it did not rain. Then he prayed again," and it rained.

I still think I have a long way to go, as far as faith and prayer go, but I guess I'm just excited about God and excited about what He's like.

While I have your attention, please pray for two friends of mine. We'll call Joe and the other Jane. Two separate stories of two people who are getting desparate and really need God in their lives.