A Closet Prayer

On Wednesday night, I sat huddled in a small interior closet with our youngest son as the literal storms in life passed overhead.  Soon, we were joined by Reagan and the older boys who had been taking shelter up at church, but thinking that the worst had passed came home.  Only then, did we find out that a tornado a mile-wide had changed direction and was headed north towards our city.  As we sat packed as tightly as sardines (and I wondered if they had in fact put on deodorant)..... Carson asked the obvious question, "Have we prayed?"  Honestly, I had been praying silently from the moment the sirens started and had even prayed with Kendall at one point, but I never turn down my children when they request prayer.  Carson prayed.  I cannot express all that he said in that prayer, but my heart filled with such joy as it was such a genuine, mature crying out to His and Our Father asking for God's grace to allow this storm to pass over us. 

When all was said and done, much damage was left in the aftermath of this storm- homes lost, many injured, and some lives were lost, but it could have been so much worse.  We had little more than a heavy rain, but having lived in "tornado alley" all my life, I have learned to always respect the sirens and take them seriously.  As I read in Genesis 18 today and thinking about Abraham and the plea he makes to the Lord, I thought about the plea Carson made for our family in the closet... in our fear.
Let's focus on the last half of the chapter, in verses 16-33.

"Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way. “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.” So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.” The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.” Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.” Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.” “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.” Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent." (Genesis 18:16-33 NLT)

In the very first part of this chapter, we discover that Abraham sees three men in the distance, but it is obvious that these men are more than they seem.  Immediately, Abraham has them come to his tents for rest and food- the best he had to offer.  We soon discover that these "men" include the Lord and two of his messengers who had come for a very specific purpose- to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah as they had become so evil.  Only a few times in scripture did God allow part of his creation to be destroyed and it was because the world had gotten so bad.  As this plan is revealed to Abraham, he begins to plead for these two cities in hopes that the righteous within them could be spared.  God listens.  This blessed me so much as God still listens to us!  No matter the storm in your life, God will listen to your pleas and cries.  He, as any good parent, does what is best for us and for our spiritual growth.  Sometimes, that may mean we don't get what we wanted, but it is what is best for us. 

I think this was also a chance for God to have confirmed what He already knew in regards to Abraham- that he held a compassionate heart for others.  Look at the desperate measure he went to help his nephew Lot and family years earlier..... and now he pleads, once again, for Lot, his family and anyone else within these cities who would be considered righteous.  I think that was part of what blessed me so much about Carson's closet prayer, his precious pleas for protection over all in the midst and path of these storms.  It convicts me as I reflect.... do I cry out in prayer for others as much as I should?  Am I so deeply affected by the world and circumstances around me that I desperately cry out to God for the needs I witness? 

In life, dear friend, the storms will come.  Let us rejoice that we serve a God who always stops and listens to the cries of our heart.  Always.... He listens.  Be thankful for whatever answer we receive trusting that it will be for your best interest.  Trust and have faith... it is for the best.  Be burdened and prayerful for the world in which we live.  By doing so, God will grow a deeper compassion within that is better able to serve and be used by Him.  Pray.... desperately so for the world in need.  Oh Father, let the glory of your love within always shine forth from our lives bringing love, care and meeting needs to this lost and lonely world.  Let our hands be Yours and our feet led by Your Spirit.

Blessings....