PRAYING FOR ME
Today's reading:  2 Chronicles 6-10

"And when foreigners hear of you and your mighty miracles, and they come from distant lands to worship your great name and to pray toward this Temple, then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you.  Then all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, as your own people Israel do..."   2 Chronicles 6:32-33 NLT

Ever heard your name spoken in someone's prayer?

I've heard Mom pray for me.  I've heard my Grandma Lawrence speak my name in prayer.  I've had friends surround me at the altar and speak my name to our Heavenly Father.  I've sat in sobbing tears as little guys pray for me in their toddler voices to their Awesome God.  I've had folks pray for me before I spoke to their assembly.

There's nothing like it!  To know God's hearing your name spoken by someone other than yourself.  It's a very encouraging and empowering and humbling feeling.

But to hear a king pray for me?  Me, a commoner?  To know that from a podium, on a very, very special occasion, in front of a very large crowd of people, the king of a faraway land mentions me?

King David mentioned me in his prayer to dedicate the Temple in approximately 959 B.C.

B.C., friends.  Before the calendar changed.  Before Jesus.  Before the crucifixion and the torn veil of the Temple.  Before the thought of allowing someone other than a full-blooded Jewish man into the presence of God was even thought of.  Before Peter had his dream.  Before my parents met.  Before I was even born.

Me, the foreigner(King David and I weren't from the same neighborhood).  Me, the one from the distant land--(know how far Jerusalem is from my little town?).  Me, the one who has heard of His great works and was drawn to Him one Easter Sunday morning.  Me, a gal from Southern Illinois, who has proof on a daily basis that He hears my prayers when I pray.  Me, the Gentile who has had His blessings poured into her life like a thundering downpour in the summer.

King David was praying for the likes of me.  No, he didn't mention my name specifically--but I know, without a doubt, I'm one of the 'outsiders' he was praying for.  I'm the one he was asking God to hear and answer.  I'm the one!  I'm the one!

You were, too!