FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

Do not fear for I am with you, do not be afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you and uphold you with my righteous right hand.

—Isaiah 41:10

Alone in the dark, an unusual noise startles you. Immediately fear invades your body. Like a lightning bolt in a storm, fear jumpstarts the nervous system into action. Has this ever happened to you? Let me set the scene…

Darkness fills the room. As you snuggle under the covers, you feel relaxed and comfortable. But your contentment is disrupted by an unusual, frightening sound. You burrow deeper into the bed like a turtle vanishing into his shell. Your imagination runs wild as you hear the noise again. This time it’s not quite so intrusive. With legs trembling, you make a dash for the light switch. The second light fills the room, a sigh of relief escapes. As you tiptoe to the window, you hear the Mission Impossible song playing in your head. You let out an even bigger sigh when you realize the mysterious noise was just a branch scraping against the windowpane.

Why, when we hear sounds in the darkness, do we experience fear? Why do we experience trembling and unrealistic thoughts? These feelings apply to spiritual darkness too. Sin creates pitch-black areas in our lives, and in turn, these create fear, guilt, anxiety, and hopelessness. Just like turning on a light replaces darkness, we can avoid spiritual darkness by running to the Light—Jesus. Believe and know He is waiting for you to fall into His arms of security!

PRAYER CHALLENGE

Cuddle up in your prayer chair and memorize Isaiah 41:10. Do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you and uphold you with my righteous right hand. Write it down and strategically put it someplace to constantly remind you of the One who is our help and guide. Prayer is the key to relinquishing fear of the unknown. Ask Jesus to help you replace your fears with trust. Trust Jesus in every way, in everything!

FIRST-THINGS-FIRST

Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

—Matthew 7:7-8

Did you take time to pray this morning? Did you wake up with Jesus on your heart, mind, and soul? He is waiting every morning for our first thoughts to be on Him; for us to praise Him for who He is, what He has done, and how He works all things to His glory.

From early on, my children observed me spending quiet time with the Lord in the mornings. One day after refereeing my children’s arguments, I hit the point of blast-off. I sent all four of them to different parts of the house in hopes of bringing some level of order back into our home. From one room, Luke, eight years old at the time, asked me a question that penetrated my heart. In fact, it still lingers in the cervices of my mind. He said, "Mama, I need to ask you an important question. Did you have your quiet time with the Lord this morning?"

This question hit home! Before I got out of bed that morning, my wheels were already spinning ninety miles an hour figuring out how to accomplish the tasks for the day. No thought of Jesus entered my heart, soul, or mind. Oh, what we can learn from the mouths of babes!

PRAYER CHALLENGE

Seek Him first every morning before your head leaves the pillow. Need a reminder? Ask the Holy Spirit for an inward nudge as a prompt to seek the Lord first thing. Surrender your day to Him. Be on the lookout for how He reveals Himself to you and how He wants to use you for His purposes throughout the day. And remember, others watch you… especially your children and grandchildren!

BITTER ROOT

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

—Hebrews 12:15

What is meant by the terms bitter root or root of bitterness? Why does the author of Hebrews use these words to warn readers to be on guard? The best way to understand this verse is to look at a

real life illustration.

Imagine this scenario. From as early as you can remember, you had a life plan which included school, friends, college, extra curricular activities, spouse, children, church, ministry, and more. Life is good. Your thankfulness to God is constantly on the tip of your tongue. In your joy, you vow to serve Jesus all the days of your life. But then, out of nowhere, you are blindsided by an email from a long time friend who accuses you of mistreating her.

At first, it causes sadness, as memories flash across your mind. Tears well up, but are held back by a growing resentment. As days go by, you can't forget the email. Her words continue to pour through your mind and heart like boiling water. Eventually the sadness turns into hatred. Your family starts asking questions like, "Why does Mommy yell at us all the time? Mom doesn't smile as much anymore."

Well, I think by now you probably get the picture. Hurt can turn to anger, which can eventually affect all areas of your life. This is what happens if we don't immediately cut, chop, or pull a bitter root.

Let's examine the garlic plant. Garlic is a wonderful addition to an herb garden. Its presence protects against harmful insects. But by nature, it is an aggressive, invasive plant. A gardener can expect a garlic plant to attempt to take over the whole garden. It spreads by producing seed heads that fall to the ground and sprout new plants. Its roots suck the nutrients out of the soil leaving a hard, clay like clump, which is of no use to the other plants around it. It must be controlled.

Just like a gardener controls the spread of the garlic plant, we must allow the true gardener, God, to have control of the seeds and roots growing in our spiritual lives. We must give God access to cut, chop, or pull the bitter roots that desire to take over and rob us of our joy.

PRAYER CHALLENGE

Ask God to reveal any bitter root that is sucking the nutrients from your spiritual life. Allow the Lord to be your gardener and cultivate your life for His glory. Prayer cuts and destroys the roots of anger. Be steadfast in your prayers. Ask others to pray over this area of your life. Also, when given the opportunity, stand in the gap for others. Remember… See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. —Hebrews 12:15

THE DOOR DILEMMA

Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

—2 Timothy 2:23

Tears flow. Heart pounds. Mind races. Slamming her bedroom door sends a shockwave of emotion through her body. Crumpling to the floor, she wonders how much longer she can take it. The dissension invading their relationship consumes her every thought. She cries out to God, “Lord, why is mom so stubborn and unreasonable? I can’t wait until I’m old enough to get out of here!”

On the other side of the door, the mama weeps. She feels the pain like a dagger to her heart, and she wonders what went wrong. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect such ongoing motherdaughter

battles.

Thoughts drift back sixteen years, when the joy of her life entered the world. Sweet memories forever embedded in the depths of her heart. A flashback of singing, “Jesus Loves Me” while rocking her baby girl enters her mind— Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones... Tears pool.

Past prayers replay over and over in her mind. Seems like yesterday. Humbly, she cries out, “Oh Lord, what is happening to us? We desperately need you to mend our tattered relationship. Please, God…” This heartache exceeds the pain of childbirth. In slow motion she raises her hands, releasing it all to Jesus.

Think about it. On either side of the door are two females—one the mother, the other the daughter. Both simultaneously cry out to God, pleading for Him to answer. But the basis of their prayers doesn’t line up. One prayer stems from selfishness, the other from disappointment. How does God handle this? How does He work it for His glory? His grace and mercy go beyond our understanding.

Carefully read Galatians 5:16, Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Thankfully, God used this powerful verse to impact my life at an early age. I realized the more we allow selfishness into our lives, the more misery we experience. Selfishness breeds selfishness. In time this leads to disappointment, gloom, and sorrow.

Teaching our children as early as possibly to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh is vital. Human nature desires self-gratification. A mom does not have to teach her two year old to say “no” or “mine.” It comes naturally. But, training him to share a toy takes time, discipline, and direction. Continually sharing God’s Word with our children opens the door for them to understand God’s love, grace, and mercy.

Praying for our children to grasp this truth is the key. We are called as parents and grandparents to share scripture with our children and grandchildren. We must be their examples of living it out daily

in our own lives, just like my grandmama and her prayer chair!

Oh, parenting is the most difficult, yet most rewarding job. I am not sure I grasped this until experiencing it in my own life. Now, in my empty nest season, I see in the rearview mirror a clearer picture. The parent-child relationship reflects my relationship with God.

How many times have I disappointed Him through my selfish desires? Does His heart skip a beat when I tell Him how much I love Him? Does He smile when I call upon Him just to talk? The more “seasoned” I become, the more I desire a living, walking, breathing relationship with Him every moment of every day!

PRAYER CHALLENGE

Have you experienced heartache within the walls of your home? Oh my, the Lord has an answer. Read 2 Timothy 2: 20-26. Be encouraged. God’s Word has all the answers. Seek Jesus daily in everything. Ask Him to mend any relationships in need of repair. Humble yourself before the Lord and confess your responsibility in the broken relationship. Give God access to work His miracles in and through the situation.

CONNECT THE DOTS

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

—Acts 12:5

Do you remember playing Connect the Dots? I love this game! It’s fun to stare at the dots and try to determine their final formation. It reminds me of living each day for Jesus. Together let's play the Connect the Dots game. Read through Acts 12:5-18. Here are the highlighted points of God's connections...

• Peter was thrown into prison.

• The Church was constantly praying for his release.

• He was chained and guarded by four soldiers.

• Plans were set for Peter's execution.

• But it was against the law to have a trial or sentencing during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. God's perfect timing began to unfold.

• Peter slept. He wasn't worried, mad, frustrated, or blaming God. He was just resting.

• Boom! An angel appeared, and he struck Peter on the side.

• Peter’s chains fell off. He obeyed the angel and followed him out the prison doors.

• After the angel departed, Peter realized God had released him from prison.

• Immediately God directed Peter to go to Mary's house.

• The church was gathered in one accord at Mary's house, praying for Peter's release.

• He knocked on the door of the gate. He knocked and knocked until someone answered.

• The prayer warriors couldn’t believe their eyes.

• In the doorway stood the reality of their answered prayers— Peter!

Peter didn't have a clue about God's plan. He just trusted. In the midst of the prayer warriors praying, God answered! Tracing the dots backwards we see how each one connected to God's final purpose and plan. Think for a minute… how did Peter's imprisonment affect others? This Dot Chart is still bridging gaps today. Oh, God's perfect plan doesn't unfold all at once. It is revealed in His perfect timing!

AN AMAZING CONNECT THE DOTS TESTIMONY

I dedicate this to my dear friend Theresa Donlon and her daughter, Anne. I must share a personal testimony about connecting the dots—one that is forever embedded in my heart.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

6:30 a.m. Before my head leaves the pillow, the Holy Spirit begins nudging me... “Wake up. I am calling you to pray for every Reflecting Him Sister who is doing the Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It Bible study.” Immediately this gentle nudge turns into a sharp prod. With my arms raised to heaven, I drop to my knees praying, "Oh Lord, whoever has her Reflecting Him book open, please give her understanding. Pour into her, through the Holy Spirit, sweet revelations from Your Word." This prayer continues throughout the day.

7:00 p.m. Teaching Reflecting Him - Week 3 Senses of the Soul live at Magnolia Bible Church. I share the freshness of God calling me to pray for all Reflecting Him Sisters. The lecture focuses on believers in Jesus loving and encouraging each other. Just like a physical cut to the human body causes platelets to rush in to form scabs and white blood cells to show up to fight germs, the Body of Christ needs to jump into action. When one is hurt by divorce, death, financial difficulties, or anything else, some of us need to rush to the scene, ready to bring a meal, provide transportation, or help however needed. Others need to show up to pray against the enemy!

8:00 p.m. As the lecture ends, one of the ladies, Theresa, literally runs to me. Holding her phone out she says, "Read my Facebook post from this morning at 7:05 a.m. Great time with the Lord this morning in my Bible study. God is connecting the dots!" Tears flow. Embracing one another, we thank God for uniting our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Thursday, February 9

I receive an email from Jackie, the Bible study coordinator at a church in Bandera, Texas. Their group agreed to be Reflecting Him Sisters with the Bible study at Magnolia Bible Church. They were praying for one another as they all went through the Bible study. Jackie’s email confirms how much their Bible study group enjoyed praying over their Reflecting Him Sisters at MBC.

Saturday, February 11

I receive a Facebook message from a friend, "Carla, I don't know if you heard the news, but yesterday Theresa's daughter, Anne, died in a car wreck." Shock sets in. I read the message three or four times to make sure I didn't read it wrong. Tears form. Heart aches. Prayers pour.

Rushing home, I get on Facebook to read Theresa’s posts. Reading her words causes my chin to quiver, "My heart is about to burst. I miss her so much! How can this be happening? God, I trust you even when it doesn't make sense." Encouraging messages flood her page. A mama's heart is breaking. All I can think about are the events leading up to that day… How God prepared my dear friend in His own way and timing.

Monday, February 13

I see on Facebook that Theresa's oldest daughter recently moved to Bandera, Texas, population 927. God bumps encompass my body. Immediately, I send a message to Jackie, the Bible study coordinator in Bandera, informing her of the tragedy.

Tuesday, February 14

9 a.m. I receive a phone call from Jackie. I hear a crack in her voice, "Carla, are you sitting down? You are not going to believe this! Theresa's daughter who lives in Bandera is my best friend's daughter-in-law! It's amazing how God called us to pray over Theresa BEFORE this tragic situation occurred.” Sitting in My Prayer Chair I am in awe of God Connecting the Dots!

2 p.m. Anne's Memorial Service is packed. Complete silence fills the room as Theresa approaches the podium. In humbleness she shares her heart, "God will be glorified and is glorified through my Anne's death. Over the past three weeks God prepared me through my Bible study, Reflecting Him. God has a plan. I trust His plan even though it doesn't make sense." Not a dry eye in the room. I sob. In silence I cry out to God, "If you wrote Reflecting Him through me just for my friend, I praise you. I am yours. To You belongs the glory forever and ever. I submit to you. Use me as your hands and feet here on earth. Amen!"

God continues to use Anne's life to draw others to Himself. A number of people accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior on the day of her memorial service. Praise the Lord! Thank you to the whole Donlon family for allowing God to shine through all of you, for trusting Him when it doesn't make sense, and for focusing on Him in the midst of your pain. God is using all of you in mighty ways to further Kingdom purposes as He continues to connect the dots!

PRAYER CHALLENGE

Ask God to show you His connections in your life. Open your eyes to see the people He brings into your family activities. Watch for situations that open the doors to conversations about Jesus and

God’s Word. Take opportunities to pray for others throughout the day.

IN MY PRAYER CHAIR

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To my Readers,

Well, we have come to the end of our journey through My Prayer Chair. A continuous prayer resonates within my soul…

“Lord, I ask that whoever reads My Prayer Chair experiences divine appointments with You. Please penetrate the hearts of my readers and give them a desire to commune with You seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. May You be their first and last thoughts on each day. I pray they develop a habit of changing their thoughts to prayers so they begin recognizing You in and through their lives. I pray each one desires a living, walking, breathing relationship with You. Thank you for activating my prayers into action through your creative and miraculous ways. I love you, Lord. In the name above all names, Your Son, Jesus, Amen.”

So, as I close my laptop and sit reclined in my prayer chair, tears emerge, heart rejoices, and love overflows. The blessings of participating in eternity on earth through prayer fill me with wonder. God’s design is for His children to communicate with Him through ongoing, daily conversations throughout our lives. May this little book inspire you to create a prayer haven of your own, a place you can call—my prayer chair.

From My Heart to Yours,

Carla McDougal

Founder of Reflective Life Ministries

Author of My Prayer Chair and Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carla McDougal, founder of Reflective Life Ministries, has a true passion for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This love shines brightly whether she is speaking or writing. It humbles her to realize His love, grace, and mercy go beyond her understanding. She truly believes laughter is medicine from the Lord that breaks down walls and removes the masks in our lives. As a result, God has taken her around the world to encourage others to live every day for Him.

Her latest book, My Prayer Chair, won multiple awards in 2013 and is now available in Spanish. Carla’s first book, Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It, was published in 2010. It is a 10-week study that encourages the reader to open her eyes to God’s daily life lessons.

Carla and her husband, Fred, live in the Houston, TX area and have three sons, one daughter, and two “daughters-in-love.” She smiles to think of the experiences God has allowed in her life to teach and remind her “He is in control.”

Dedication & Acknowledgements

My Prayer Chair is dedicated to Ada Belle Yeargan-Wills, my Grandmama. Her love and devotion to prayer left a mark on all her children and grandchildren. She entered the world in 1906 and went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus, in 1991. Her eighty-five years filled all of us with joy, wisdom, and strength.

I love you, Grandmama!

Carla McDougal

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A huge love-hug goes to my husband, Fred. “Your love, encouragement, and prayers spur me forward in accomplishing God’s call on my life.”

I send kisses and blessings to my children. “I thank God for all of you. I thank Him for answering my heart’s cry for you to love Jesus with all your hearts, souls, minds, and strength.”

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My heart of appreciation goes out to Kitty Self for fine-tuning My Prayer Chair. “Thank you for helping me to express my creative ideas more clearly.”

A big “Thank You” to Jake Allen for developing the My Prayer Chair book-cover design.

Love working with both of you so much!