Just a Simple Prayer...

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:24) 

A few days before Spring Break I was chatting with some of my students after an intensely terrifying chemistry lesson, when the topic turned to praying for one's husband. It seemed that one of the girls had been praying for God's protection on her future mate, to the amusment of some of her classmates.

I think they were just a little suprised by my decisive response: There's absolutely nothing wrong with praying for your future mate....

For a minute there my mind went back to when I was where they are now, trying to just make it through the awkwardness that was high school. Even then, in my devotions, I would pray that whoever the Lord had for me to marry someday, God's protection would be upon him.

College came and went with no serious relationships, and still I prayed.

There was the move home to teach for a few years and yet nothing.

It was easy to become discouraged when dear friends around me were marrying and starting their own families...and then there was me.

I was twenty-five when my husband and I started corresponding via e-mail: [Him] Hey, I wanted to say hi to you. I am busy at work wanting to write you and tell you a bit about myself. That will have to hold off for now...if you would like to write some things about yourself feel free. I talk much better than I write (lol)...

[Me] When I'm not teaching school or piano I love to go to Starbucks with my friends. Of course, like any other woman, I LOVE to shop [and just as a precaution]...one of my hobbies is shooting (yes---guns "Oh my!")...

[Him] Now knowing that you shoot, watch out. I may be too scared to write back, but I better because....well, this is a no win situation. I could get shot either way. "What have I gotten myself into."

[Me] ...I am a very, VERY, VVVEEERRRYYY good shot (by the way)....

I mean, really...better to let him know what he was getting into up front!

During our messages to each other, I learned he was twenty-nine, living twelve hours away, working at a refinery, while serving in his local church. Soon our lengthy e-mails turned into multiple phone calls throughout the day, with the last one ending in devotions together. Before long, I found myself falling in love for the first time in my life....scary, because we hadn't even met in person yet.

If you know anything about us, our backgrounds are polar opposites. I grew up in a Pastor's home, always at church, always involved in ministries of the church. It was at the age of four when I saw myself as a sinner and asked the Lord to save me. I attended a Christian school, went off to Bible college...my entire life was centered around serving the Lord.

My husband, on the other hand, didn't come to know the Lord until he was twenty-five. He'd grown up in a broken home, played sports in public high school, was stationed on an air craft carrier during his four years in the Navy, partied, drank...until one fateful morning, a man came to the window where he worked, and asked if he were to die that day did he know for sure he was going to Heaven.

Six weeks later, while at a red light on his way to work, he bowed his head and accepted Christ as his Savior.

All those years I had been praying for God to save and to protect my future husband, He was doing just that...through every party where alcohol was involved, through every deployement overseas, through every fight he was ever involved in...when I thought the Lord had forgotten all about me, He was still answering my prayer, protecting my future husband for the day when an e-mail appeared in my inbox...thirteen years ago...March 28th.

Every time I look into the face of my Dear Hubby, I'm reminded of God's provision, of His protection, of His answer...all because a simple, sixteen year old girl prayed for her future mate.

Simply Blessed,