And I Wished Upon A Star...

Ok, so not really a star... but a prayer. And not just one... many. As I sat in chapel service yesterday the topic was on prayer. He made a statement that stunned me and not because of how particularly profound it was, but actually at how simple it was. He said, "When we obey God, we could be answering a prayer that someone prayed 100 years ago". It stunned me because of how true it was. I often find myself thinking in immediate terms as far as prayers being answered... not in long term. And how many prayers are prayed specifically for and about us that we aren't even aware are being prayed?

After dinner last night, my boyfriend and I began talking about this very subject. He was commenting on several times when he'd informed his mother of a decision and her response was simple, "We prayed about that in bible study". We then began continuing a discussion that floored me. His desire to learn about what God had for him and what God was teaching him was profound. It far surpassed any desire I'd had lately. I could see the fire in his eyes and the willingness to take that step even deeper into what Christ had to offer him. Even later in the evening as I sat pouring out my heart to my best friend with tears streaming down my face, an unbelievable feeling hit me. The two conversations I'd had that night were two specific prayers I had prayed... almost a year ago.

When I moved here I had no idea why I was coming. I blindly walked into this place with almost no knowledge of Life Action (who I would work for) and zero knowledge of life up north. I didn't know a soul and had only talked on the phone to one person from the ministry. I knew God would teach me something, but I didn't know what I was supposed to expect. I'd been on a roller coaster of emotion and felt completely alone. I had so many desires of my heart and I didn't know how to ask for them. Before I moved I prayed God would give me two things.

The first thing I wanted was a best friend. I'd been burned around every corner and done my fair share of burning. I wanted to balance of a friend that I could laugh, joke and be myself with, but one that I could pour out my heart with issues and discuss this walk of grace. I'd always had either extreme. There was never a balance of the two. I wanted so badly to have a friend I knew would stand in the gap for me and I knew that loved me for me. They could know my past, they could know everything bad I'd ever done, but they would still see the real me.

The second thing I prayed for was a godly man. A man that desired to be a Priest, Prophet and King of my household. Someone I didn't have to stay on about going to church... they would go on their own if I wasn't there. I wanted to date a guy who desired to know what God had for his life and for our life. Someone I could trust and love and I could give my heart to. I'd done my fair share of dating and my resume wasn't too impressive. It would take a special godly man to take me. I wanted a balance. I didn't need a cookie cutter religious nut job and I wanted someone I could be myself with and still have a great time. I was very specific about what I wanted... someone who knew family was important and someone who would live in the south! (Um, my God has no limitations!) I wanted someone who would treat me like I felt I should be treated... a nice guy. Something I hadn't dated many of.

The longer I talked to my friend on the phone the more I'd realized after these many months... God had answered those prayers. He had given me a friend better than I could have ever asked for. He had given me that friend at the most unexpected time and from the most unexpected place. He'd planted the seed for a very specific time for us to meet and very specific things to connect us. I could not imagine having a stronger connection with a friend and there are days I feel like we live in this parallel universe. How could someone else be THAT much like me? There are the aspects of the silliness, the jokes and just the flat out hilarity of our relationship, but there are the times like last night when we pour our heart out to one another or the times I just simply don't know what to do and she talks me down off the ledge. I found last night God had given me everything I'd wanted and more in Kyle. The want and desire for a relationship with Christ and truly understanding the meaning of grace were phenomenal. He wanted to walk this with me and wanted to do it himself if I wasn't there. It's never about obligation or because he thinks that's what I want. He treats me like I'm a princess and truthfully... it's better than I deserve to be treated. It's an amazing feeling. In the whirlwind of this life I've lived and the roller coaster of emotion this past year, I know why God brought me here. He had to uproot me and move me to this place simply... to give me my heart's desire.