When I was in middle school, I started writing in a prayer journal. It was a more focused way of expressing my thoughts and prayers to God. It was also a tremendous testimony to how God was working in my life as I looked back and read past prayers.
Early in my high school career, I prayed that God would use my interest in languages to his glory. It seemed like a good prayer at the time. My sister’s interest prompted my entire family to take a sign language class. And I had already started taking Spanish classes at school.
Shortly after that prayer, we were offered the opportunity to host a Brazilian foreign exchange student through my high school. We even met her family and hosted them on a visit. My limited Spanish and her broken English made for an interesting situation communicating with her family in Portuguese, but we managed.
During that time, I thought that was the only way God was answering my prayer regarding my passion for languages: Spanish classes, sign language class, and a Brazilian exchange student. Was I ever mistaken…
My limited perspective of an “already answered prayer” potentially limited the doors God would open later in my life: Translator, coordinator of campaigns, women’s retreats, youth camps, church plants (in U.S., Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela), full-time missionary to Venezuela… and God isn’t finished answering that prayer yet!
Fast forward to today. This summer will be three years since the establishment of Iron Rose Sister Ministries, a bilingual women’s ministry resource. Everything we do is made available in both English and Spanish. And we continue to pray that all we do be to God’s glory.
My simple high school prayer is still a valid one today and I can’t wait to see how else God honors that simple plea nearly 25 years ago.
Take a moment to reflect on a prayer you have lifted up to God—one that you think he has maybe already responded to. And realize that he may not be through answering it yet. Let’s not limit his potential in our lives. What a mighty God we serve!