How to pray when you don't know what to do

Originally published Friday, 22 August 2014.

For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 2 Chronicles 20:12b (NIV)

The oncologist called again this week. 

She asked Xylon to come in and see her. We don’t know why. 

Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 

I scroll through social media and see people mourning Robin Williams, remembering a man who made them laugh, questioning the pain that makes a man take his life. An icon of the desperation so many people hide in life. 

Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 

I read news of women running away in the desert, children being beheaded for their faith and I find myself whispering,  

Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 

An email arrives in my inbox. News of a couple, who give and give and give, brutally attacked on their farm. 

Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 

And then there is this war in Palestine. 

Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 

And Ebola.

Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 

These words I’ve been praying, I stole them. 

I ripped them from the pages of the Bible, from the mouth of King Jehosophat. 

When he lifted these words to God he was King of Judah and facing an imminent attack by armies much stronger than his. 

He called his people together and they prayed:

For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on God. (tweet this)

And God responds with a pretty miraculous story that sees Jehosphats’ army not striking one man but winning the battle. 

What a prayer. 

What an invitation for God to do something unbelievable. 

I don’t know about you but in the face of all this news. In the face of all the hard things happening in the world I want to see God show up. 

I want to join Jehosphat in praying, “God, it’s your move.” 

I don’t want to limit God with my prayers, I want to invite him to do something in every situation that is a miracle, that is God. 

I want to leave space for God to do the unbelievable. (tweet this)

For we have no power to face this hard news that is attacking us.

Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you. (tweet this)

Ponder: What do you think would happen if you stopped trying control situations and instead invited God to do the unbelievable?

Pray: I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on you, Lord. 

{Other places I've been writing lately}

Beauty for Ashes | When you are undone by Depression

iBelieve.com | 5 Simple Ways to Declutter Your House Today

{Share this post}

You can share this devotional on twitter by clicking here. I’d also love for you to connect with me on my Facebook and twitter pages or if you're viewing this via email you can leave a comment by clicking here.

Get a copy of my e-book Life, Life and More Life for free. Just subscribe to receive my devotionals every Monday and Friday. In the book I share some of thoughts on how to make every moment count, gleaned from my experiences of loving my husband through 18 sessions of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. You can subscribe here

- This was orginally published on my site in August 2014 to read more devotionals like this go to ilovedevotionals.com

SHARE