Sunday Psalms and Stories: God Answers Prayer

On Sundays, this space is reserved for God's stories. As one of the redeemed, I'd like to share just some of the many things he's done in my life. I hope you'll be encouraged by them!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:1-2

Scripture can be hard to understand. For instance, a few years ago, my girls and I were traveling in London and before we went touring for the day, we had Bible study in our hotel room. Basically, I stuck my finger randomly in the Bible and read the scripture. Here's the one I poked out:

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19.

This was a verse I'd pondered over for years and I couldn't explain it to my children. After all, what did it mean to "speak in poetry, hymns and spiritual songs?" We cracked some jokes and tried singing to each other, but it wasn't helpful. 

Fast forward to sightseeing: After visiting the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, we stumbled upon Westminster Abbey. It was awe inspiring and too huge for one camera lens...

It was late afternoon, we were exhausted but hoped to see inside. We circled the building to find that we'd just missed the final tour. The girls were happy, but I was sad - there are tombs inside and I wanted to see them!

So we're milling around the front entrance, trying to figure out where to have dinner and all of a sudden, this massive door is opened by a priest in a long robe.

My mother-in-law (that's her in the bottom right corner with the huge bag) decides to ask the priest what time the tour will be tomorrow. As she approached he said, "Are you here for the service?" She looked at me with my wide eyes and said, "Yes. Yes, we are."

As she coaxed my irritated daughters inside, I whispered, "Oooh. You just lied to a priest!" She said, "Well, let's go inside and ask for forgiveness."

The Abbey is one of the most beautiful and sacred places I've ever been in and since cameras aren't allowed, I can't show you. They held a service in the middle of it and we watched as a row of priests and choir members glided in. Then the service began...

It was entirely in music - even the scripture was in song. Not one word was spoken.

My kids were bored to tears but as I followed along and read the program, I was overcome with joy. My Heavenly Father was showing me: This is how it's done.

Just hours after I'd asked him to help me understand that difficult verse, he answered my prayer in a way I'd never dreamed.
                                                                             
                                                                                                  He is faithful and wonderful!