Be free to LOL

Brooke Durbin is an FCC Mission Partner who teaches high school at Sonlight Ministries in Haiti.  She will soon return to Haiti and will marry Marc Cadet, who also teaches at Sonlight Ministries, on August 14.   Last night there was a bridal shower for Brooke at FCC.  Judy Hickman gave a devotion based on what it means that a woman is her husband’s crown and then opened a prayer time for Brooke.  Beth Siefke was one of the people who prayed aloud over Brooke.   Part of her prayer was “And give them lots and lots and lots of babies.”  (You have to know Beth – she LOVES all babies.)  About 40 women all laughed out loud at the same time. 

What?  They laughed during prayer?  You bet.   What an honest prayer and what an honest response.  This is exactly what God wants from you as you pray – authenticity.  Be who you are.  Talk with him about the moments in your life.  Laugh out loud if you want.  Sing if that’s who you are.  Draw him a picture if you’re an artist.  

In the same way, cry if you need to.  Yell if you need to.   Give him the deepest dark secrets of your heart.  Bring your most desperate need to him.  He can handle anything.  He IS our loving God.  He IS the one who made us.  He IS all-knowing God.  Nothing you can say to God in prayer will make him love you less.  Nothng you can say to God will make him love you more.

This month’s sermons from Galatians have been all about what it means to be free in Christ.  I want to add one more:  You are free to LOL in prayer!

When was the last time you experienced great joy while praying?