But God

 Travailing in prayer is much more than throwing up a few wishes. It is carrying a burden inside the soul much like a pregnant woman carries a baby in her womb. To give birth to either requires travailing labor. The mother must endure to give birth to her child. The prayer warrior must travail to give birth to unseen realities. Both produce miracles. 

It is early in the morning. I have not slept for the last hour even though I remained in bed. Travailing over a mountain that Brenda and I need God to move. It is a pushing into existence that which does not exist except in the spirit. It means denying all doubt and clinging to hope that only comes with faith. It is being reminded but when God intervenes everything can change. But God. Look at God and what He has done in the past and what He is capable of doing in the present. It is refusing to accept impossibilities in light of a God for whom nothing is impossible. 

Travailing prayer is hard work. It is time consuming. It means carrying the unseen answer like a baby in the womb during the gestation period. Each day is a day closer to the miracle birth. Each prayer one step closer to the mountain moving. [Mark 11:23-24] Travailing means forsaking sleep and even food for the sake of pleading with God night and day for His intervention. God can change any circumstance. Prayer is asking God. Through prayer God can do anything. So, we ask, seek, and knock. [Matt 7:7-8] We pray with active faith believing for the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. [Heb 11:1] We pray without losing heart. [Luke 18:1] We trust that nothing is impossible with God. [Luke 1:37]. 

It does not matter how the odds might be stacked against us. But God. They were also stacked against Moses and Israel at the Red Sea. They were stacked against Joshua and Israel at the Jordan River before going into the promise land. They were stacked against Elijah 850:1 on Mount Carmel. They were stacked against David fighting Goliath. They were stacked Lazarus dead in the tomb for four days. They were also stacked against Jesus in the tomb for three days. But God. What did God do in each of those situations. He parted the sea, divided the waters of the Jordan, sent down fire on Mount Carmel in answer to prayer, defeated Goliath through a shepherd boy and a sling, raised Lazarus from the dead, and Jesus arose from the grave and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. O, but God. 

That is not just a God who worked powerfully in the past. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He did in the past He is more than capable of doing in our day. It might require travailing prayer to see the desired outcome. But God.  It might require some fasting and a few sleepless nights. But God.  It will require more faith. It will also necessitate perseverance in travailing. We have to keep on pushing in prayer until the answer is birthed. People rejoice when the answer comes. Few rejoice in the days, weeks, months, and even years of travailing. This is done in secret where nobody sees. This is hard work. It is painful labor to keep asking and not lose faith when the answer is delayed. 

In ten days, Brenda and I are leaving the home we have enjoyed for the past five years. God graciously provided a free home for us through the loving flock of Spring Creek Baptist Church. God put a new call on our lives to follow Him to Fritch, TX to serve the First Southern Baptist Church as pastor. Our first Sunday there is April 20. We have no home there as of yet. O, but God. This is our pregnant prayer travail. Brenda is leaving the job she has worked at for the past 14 years and does not have a job in the Panhandle of Texas yet. But God. This requires travail. It is not a step of faith. It is a leap of faith. It is our crisis of belief moment. We will technically be classified as homeless, though some friends have offered us their one room efficiency apartment to stay in until we get settled in a home in Fritch. From the outside world it looks impossible. But God says nothing is impossible. I am taking a significant cut in salary. The Spring Creek church paid our utilities for the past five years. But God assures His children that He is our provider. [Phil 4:19] Everything about this situation screams IMPOSSIBLE! BUT GOD! 

When God steps in and does what only He can do everything changes. What looks like a mountain turns out to be a mole hill. What looked like an impossibility melt into possibilities. What naysayers prognosticate can't be done God does. What doubters dismiss faith attends and brings to pass. By faith Brenda and I believe our great God has a home for us in Fritch, TX. A home to build memories, to do ministry, and glorify Him. Yes, I see the obstacles. BUT GOD. Sure, I am aware of our limitations. BUT GOD. I certainly ascertain the absurdity of what I'm asking. BUT GOD. When He steps into a situation, flexes His muscles, speaks His word, moves in miraculous fashion watch out. Something grand will happen. Something that will astound people. Another testimony will be built. Another prayer will be answered. For now, we travail in the waiting period. Any day, any moment, and any time now God will do His God stuff. So, I am reminded of all those who faced difficult challenges in the past, but God showed up. So, I'm hanging my hope on nothing else but God.