4:26....So Tired!

I think that if you asked me the question "if you could go anywhere in the world and do anything you wanted today, what would you do?" I would have to respond that I would probably go to a cottage in Canada on one of the lakes and I would ask that the bed I slept in at the Hilton on the way home from Christmas be placed in one of the rooms and I would sleep for a solid 24 hours! And not just dozing, I mean real, deep, no dreams, no waking up to use the bathroom sleep!

This week although it hasn't been insanely hectic has still managed to wipe me out. I think part of the wiping out has to do with the fact I've come down with a nasty cold. I sound like a deep throated frog and I'm continuously coughing and blowing my nose. Last night I was up until 2 coughing :( (boo urns!!!) At least I don't feel sick and I'm not bedridden! Just tired.

I was at my housegroup last night and I was particularly inspired. We've been doing a series on prayer that seems to be lasting forever but it's been cause for some challenging and inspiring discussion. As we were talking about intercession I was reminded of some of the ways I used to pray a couple years ago. I wasn't thinking "what's happened to me? I used to be way more active in prayer!" or "man those were good days....I wish I could go back to those days" but I was thinking "wow...I remember what a difference those times made, perhaps I should start stepping out like that again"

I think it's easy to remember a particular point in time where you felt very spiritually alive and either kick yourself for not being like that at present or to want to camp there and live in the memory. I suppose in a way Peter gives us examples of both. Imagine how he felt looking back at denying Jesus. And then there's the time Jesus took James, John and Peter up the mountain and was transfigured and then Elijah and Moses showed up. Peter was like "Lets get the tents and stay here and camp on the mountain!! This is awesome!" Neither are helpful. I do however think that it's important to let your memories be a blessing to you and be something that helps shape the journey forward.

One particular memory that I shared last night was of the days of 4:26 prayer. I'll tell the story for those of you who have no idea what that means.

I was walking home from school one day with a couple of my guy friends, Ryan and Joel, and I'd just bought a new watch. I was trying to figure out how to use the settings and set the alarm and asked what time I should set it for. The guys told me I should set it for 4:26 and then burst out laughing. Thinking that they were slightly weird, as usual, I set my alarm for 4:26 and it stayed at that time for ages. It became this inside joke and I think I was told later that the number 426 had something to do with an engine would make sense considering the guys!

Anyway one day my friends, Ladonna, Leanne and myself were at the church for prayer and we were talking about how we should start praying at the same time every week, that way even though we weren't together we could know we were still praying at the same time. We were trying to figure out what time to make it when one of them said we should pray at 4:26 in the morning! What developed from there was that we would get up every Monday morning at 4:26 and pray until 5. I remember being pretty stoked about it and Ladonna later came and told us that Genesis 4:26 said "and this is the time man began to call upon the Lord" which was very cool! Eventually we got more ladies on bored and friends who were away at university and it was really awesome. I know I didn't get up every week, sometimes I went back to sleep, but the times I did get up to pray I remember feeling a sense that this time of prayer really was making a difference. Somehow the sacrifice of something as dear to me as sleep to spend time in prayer seemed so effective.

So that's the 4:26 story.

Like I said...I don't know if I'm going to start praying at 4:26 weekly again but I really do feel stirred up inside to get off my butt and do something. I have a real sense of anticipation and excitement for what God is doing at this moment and where my future is going to head. I'm so excited to go to Capernwray. I really feel that God is going to specifically speak to me while I'm there about the coming years. I just hope I'm ready to listen!

"The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.

1 Samuel 3:10,11