Those Aha Moments

Last week I shared George Mueller’s insight into prayer. I encouraged you to read or reread his story. Most of you probably didn’t. Here it is again.
It is long. But even though I wrote it, I gained much from re-reading it—conviction for one, inspiration for another. So press the link to read that article.
Today's article is about the application of last week’s article. So if you have not read that one, here’s the link.

As I used the Scripture to focus my prayers, I wondered if this would work—since I wasn’t in the Psalms where it is easy to worship and focus, I was in 2 Samuel 24. 
I’m glad I persevered with starting where I was reading.
Chapter 24:1 Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, ‘Go number Israel and Judah.’
Joab tried to persuade the king not to, but David insisted.
As a result, (they were told by God not to number the people), God offered David three punishments. Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? v 13.

There had been no record of any defeats while David was king, with the exception of the internal wars when his sons fought for kingship.
David choose. I am in great distress. Let me now fall into the hand of the Lord for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man. V 14.

So the death angel was sent.
But still David prayed.
The death angel stopped at the threshing floor of Araunah.

And David approached Araunah to burn offerings.
He requested to make an altar there on Araunah’s threshing floor. When Araunah offered everything to David, David responded, 
I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.

Notice the aha moment:
Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.

Why is it an aha moment for me?
Aren’t we in a plague?
I have prayed for those sick with COVID. 
I have prayed for protection for those not sick with COVID. 
I have prayed for our leaders and government as they handle the COVID.
I have prayed for our world as it has changed because of COVID.
BUT I DID NOT PRAY FOR GOD TO REMOVE COVID.

I shared with others about the aha moment.
I thought we could all begin praying for it together.
The one leader's response was that it was a good thing to pray about.
God doesn't instruct us all to do the same thing.
I know God doesn't impress upon everyone to focus on the same thing, but the world is focusing on COVID. That's all anyone talks about.
Shouldn't that concern everyone?

Another aha moment (I will spare you all the moments in between) came in 1 Kings 8:37-44 when Solomon had finished building the temple and was dedicating it to God.

If there is a famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locus or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house; then hear in heaven Your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men, that they may fear You all the days…

Also concerning the foreigner, for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand and of Your outstretched arm….in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You. 

For such a great magnitude as stopping a world-wide plague, I would need the help praying, wouldn't I?
But these verses say, prayers made by any man (Singular.)
God still will hear just my prayer and can if it pleases Him, stop the plague—for His glory.

I will continue to pray. If no one prays with me.
Maybe God will lead you to pray with me. I hope so.
But I know it does not take two, for God to hear.
I will persevere.

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
Find more articles about faith here:
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
November Dare Joy Challenge
Ungratefulness
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
Life's Little Pleasures
Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
What Do Your Words Reveal about Your Heart?
How Do You Get Strong Faith?
Too Busy for God's Word?
How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
Immanuel—God with Us
Looking for a Relationship?
When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
Do You Know Truth from Almost Truth?
I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
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The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
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What's Your Five-Year Plan?
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My Colors
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Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
Are You Hospitable?
Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
I Did It My Way
Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
The Simple Life
Do You Have the Right Words?
Did Your Dream Die?
On the Other Side of the Fence
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
   Underclass
Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
    Heart of God?
See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 

under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Special Days
Remember: The Symbols of 
   Passover Explained    
Aug 12, 2017 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
July 4th, Freedom
What Is an American Soldier?
Valentine's Day: A Day of Love?
Memorial Day-A Day To Remember
Veterans' Day-To Honor Our Men
Fall Colors
First Thanksgiving Day
    Proclamation
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs, part 2