The Way God Answers Prayers

It's always been difficult for me to understand why God can't show me His presence in a more concrete way. For years I felt like he was playing peek-a-boo. What I learned after a lot, lot of years is to recognize his voice. Pray enough and you get used to being able to discern whether you're hearing your own voice in your head or whether you're hearing what God has to say. So too, you recognize God's hand in almost every single situation you face. And when it comes to humor, God will not be outdone.

For example, I have been praying pretty intensely since the summer ended for the strength to pick up my guns and win this weight battle. I have a running list of petitions that I keep reminding Him need His attention, and this is one of them. And He has answered this particular petition in a way that I have come to recognize from him - with ironic humor. "Ok, ok" He's says as puts the idea in my brother's head to run a marathon AND to ask me to do it with him. Then He orchestrates a new trainer for me. My friend D and I start next Wednesday. Three times a week.

Now I am starting to get a little nervous.

But then comes the icing on God's sweet surprise. It turns out someone from my past is one of the owners of an EXTREME gym called API. See that little skull and crossbones there? That's their logo. Apparently the trainers are . . . scary tough. My friend is an owner and I trainer. He sent me a message saying he heard I could use a little boost and wants to help. I have to track all of my meals and eating for a week and send it to him. He's going to design a program for me. And when I get to his neck of the woods, he'll be having me come into their facility to kick my butt. Hopefully my training now will prepare me for THAT. Someone told me they have big orange buckets in their gym so people have a place to throw up. YIKES!!!!!!!

All of these worries will make my hair fall out. I'll have the butt of an 18 year old boy and the scalp of a 60 year old man. What a trade-off. Hahaha. All the while, my good friend Jesus is smiling. He's giving me what I asked for. And once again, I am reminded of the value identifying what I am asking for in a very specific way. We all know the adage: "Be careful what you pray for, you just might get it." There's a reason such advice exists. I'm proof.

So I will keep you updated. It's going to be a ride and I'm already white-knucked!!!! In the meantime, I stayed in a weight-hold over the weekend. A good thing. I even avoided the GREAT treats the little people in my world made over the weekend (pictured here). Woot!

A belated Happy Valentines to you all. And if someone out there doesn't love you, c'mon around here. I do.

♥