At the close of 2021, my family and I created a short list of prayer requests to God. We titled it 2022 Love Family Prayer Requests. When determining what to place on the list, we agreed to spend time searching within for those things that truly mattered to us and those things we knew we needed God to do – make a way out of no way. Once our hearts were on one accord, we typed a short list and were intentional to match the name with the request. We called out each request before God in prayer, pleading the blood of Jesus over each listing and proclaiming we trust God to do it. And do it, He did!

As the year 2024 began, I was led (by God) to search for our 2022 Prayer Request list on my phone. I was excited to find it. As I read the words of the brief opening prayer and traveled down the screen to the prayer requests of each of our children, then my husband, and finally me, my heart leaped. God answered most of our requests within two years! He did it with power and grace. Nobody but God could do what we asked Him to do. His doing wasn’t always instant, but certainly it was on time.

Seeing what our hearts longed for in that season, organized on a list, reminded me of each instance when God blessed us. At the time of each blessing, we praised God for His love and might. In difficult moments, we shared the list as a reminder of what we believed God for. Taking another look at what God had done during that time in my family’s life caused tears to rush down my face and a “Thank you, Lord” to rush out my mouth. My heart was overcome recounting the ways and means God chose to alert us to what mattered as we continued to journey our paths. 

My family made a new list of prayer requests to God. It’s titled 2024 Love Family Prayer Requests. Our prayer over this list included thanksgiving and a plea, “Do it again, God. We trust You”. And we do.

As new years begin, some make vision boards, some proclaim resolutions, and others throw caution to the wind and profess to live life how they want to. I implore those that don’t, to consider spending isolated time with God to learn from Him what truly matters concerning you. Spend time with your Creator, learning His voice and His comforting touch. Then make your request known to Him. Specifically, make known requests that honor God, not requests that center on glory directed to yourself.

The world is looking for answers in all the wrong places. Our lives are spared, for such a time as this. We must practice pointing to the source of our blessings, our overcoming, our breakthroughs, and our accomplishments. Take a breath and step back. Take another look at what God has done in your life. Shift your talk and your walk. Make your heart’s request known to God. He’s been waiting.

“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.” – Philippians 4:6

The photo featured in this writing shows my excitement after receiving the Yellow Fever vaccine shot for an upcoming life-changing trip I listed as a prayer request in 2021.