Keys of Prayer and Thankfulness
by Tina Yeager
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ”
Garnet petals droop as the cheer fades from my autumn centerpiece. I fear pruning will leave headless blooms and render the space devoid of life. I pace the floor around my withered plant, swept clean over and over.
All is pristine … and bare … as if no one lives here. Once alive with children’s giggles, our almost-former house now feels silent, as if the past has drifted away like dead leaves. Now these floors and tables must remain untouched and immaculate.
I trudge to my blank computer screen. It stares back with unbearable white. The stress of this transition has wiped my mind of all but stark, bleached space, too.
Where are my spiritual words for this season?
I chide myself with guilt over my silly self-pity. So many others suffer with greater loss. But the shaming session fails to cultivate a soul-lifting message. Amid the blanched walls and entombing thoughts, I reach out for a soul-lifeline.
In contrast to the tidy showroom around me, the tattered book falls apart as I open it. I find within my shoddy-looking Bible the keys to open a purposeful message—attentive prayer and thankfulness.
The God Who Sees Me knows my angst. He neither denies nor shames, but welcomes me to pray through my feelings and invite Him to attend to my needs. His loving presence fills my empty places, bringing Christ’s garnet blood in as my living centerpiece. I feel His promises to instill abundant soul-giggles wherever I may dwell. With Jesus, my table and home shall never be devoid of life.
As writers, blessings don’t end in our own dwelling places. Through prayer, He restores our messages. His bounty pours from our revived spirits through our fingertips. For these written morsels, we can be most thankful this season.
Lord, thank You for cultivating bountiful life when I feel empty. Center my mind on prayer instead of shame. Heal my angst and revitalize my prayers with thankfulness. Cultivate Your message in my soul and equip my fingertips to pour it out onto the hungry readers. Thank You, Lord, for Your faithful and loving presence. In Christ’s strength, Amen.
Award-winning author, speaker, and licensed therapist, Tina’s passion is to offer encouragement through spoken and written messages. Unloveable, releasing 2019, champions women’s significance. She enjoys writing nonfiction and speculative fiction while coaching online clients. Tina mentors five chapters in four states with Word Weavers International. Come visit her for a virtual cup of java at tinayeager.com.