Women of Prayer

In one year, Christianity lost three holy women of faith, Agnes Sanford, Corrie ten Boom and Catherine Marshall – as well as countless others whose names are unknown but who nevertheless did the work of God in this world. These are the women who knew what it meant to experience the presence of the unseen, who spent hours on their knees, who wept over the wounds of the world. For them, prayer was a second language. Who will take their place?

Frankly, there are very few candidates from our generation of women – those of us who have lavished hours in front of the television set, in the shopping plazas, in self-indulgence, in not developing a disciplined spiritual life.

Unless – unless, we begin to grow up spiritually. Unless we become convinced that we are the generation of Christian adults ultimately responsible for the spiritual condition of our nation. We must understand that there are increasingly few in that generation ahead of us left to pray over this world. We are coming of age. But are we coming to terms with our lack of spiritual depth and ability?

It is we who must learn the meaning of forbearing.

It is we who must develop the disciplines of spiritual perseverance, not shrinking back from growth but doing the will of God, having faith and keeping our souls.

It is we who must become women of faith and prayer and obedience and service.

It is we who must set a spiritual standard for the next generation.

It is time for us all to grow up.

‘Women of Prayer’ by Karen Burton Mains,
found in the ‘Women’s Devotional Bible’ pg. 1377

Alongside Us

My Dear Kingdom Seekers,

I ran across this devotional in my 'Women's Devotional Bible 2' from Anne Ortlund and it really ministered to me; so I want to share it with you:

A mother once took her little boy to hear Paderewski, the great pianist. At the beginning there was simply a bare stage with a spotlight focused on the grand piano and bench. The mother and son had come half an hour early, and eventually the little boy got restless. Somehow, the mother got absorbed in reading the program, and when she finally looked up, his seat was empty! She looked everywhere around her, and he was nowhere to be seen.

Then - her heart was in her throat - suddenly she heard the sound of "Chopsticks." There he was on stage, in the spotlight, picking away on the long concert grand!

"Get him out of there!" came voices from the crowd.

"No!" cried a European accent from the wings, and the great Paderewski strode on stage. "Boy, keep going. I'll help you."

And he sat down on the bench next to the little fellow and began adding fabulous improvisations - chords, patterns, runs and additional melodies - as the two of them entranced the packed house with "Variations on Chopsticks"!

When we pick at our pathetic little prayers - when we live our pathetic little lives - suddenly we are not alone. Someone has come alongside us - none other than the Almighty Spirit of God! - and we have moved into a duet of greatness beyond our dreams.

I hope this will help all of us understand how powerful our prayers can be when the Holy Spirit adds a super-natural, power-packed punch to them. We may not feel sometimes that our prayers have enough faith, or enough power, and sometimes don't even get above the ceiling. But, be assured, that when the Holy Spirit gets ahold of our inadequate prayers, they are more than sufficient to move the heart of God.

God bless you today my Kingdom Seekin' Sweeties,

Your K.S. Mama,




Anne Orland, Women's Devotional Bible 2 NIV, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1995, pg. 1267