A friend mentioned recently that she doesn’t think to pray outloud for herself, it’s not that she doesn’t pray, she does, but the outloud thing is not usually her thing… I responded that God can hear our prayers before we say them, (see Romans 8, as we think them He knows) and He loves us immeasurably always. And I know my friend listens intently to praise music on the radio, and you know how they say that one who sings, prays twice!!! So let us all keep singing!

Well yesterday, well this recent past 2 weeks of this pollen season, I can’t think of the most INTENSE praying that I’ve done directly for myself than both yesterday and today, praying without real words coming out, praying so intently and intensely than during these BIG COUGHING FITS – ugh – no outloud words for prayer because there was no time before they attack and because there ARE no words in a sudden embarrassing coughing fit that makes you almost double over. Double in cough and in embarrassment and you can’t stifle them either! You can’t even explain that it’s from allergies, because the people in the elevator looking away (yeah awful) can’t hear what you can’t speak and would say – except in a gasp – and in the church, uh I dashed out just after communion, so that they might at least been saved from totally being distracted by me, UGH…

Never prayed so much for myself in a non-verbal but God understanding way… Love this scripture: but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. God knows and I coughed anyway… then it was gone… and oh the rain today was a Godsend in many ways – a drought delight and a pollen wash!  Oh the Lord had mercy… I can breath easier today.

In that church (which is the parish I grew up in) I was at a Catholic mass funeral (a 93yr old family friend of my mom’s – someone I had never met) for today’s coughing fit, which didn’t hit until almost near the end, I got out of the pew in time before I did my double over gagging outside beyond anyone’s gaze or earshot. Yet, I missed the closing singing of “On eagles wings” which I had taken a photo of before, was excited to sing. This became my new song, instead of eagle’s wings, hearing the tune outside only: “And he will raise you up from coughing fits, bear your breath from barely breathing, make you shine despite your shun, and hold you hold you in the palm of His Hand.” – It was beautiful to hear the organ – I knew God already had raised me up on eagles wings and He would again. Maybe that is why we pray less for ourselves because we DO know Him – and we know there is purpose in our suffering to make us more perserverent – and we know that if we pray for others, God will hear those intersession prayers. SO let us keep praying for everyone – ourselves included.

Let us keep singing even while sigh-ing, calling even though coughing, praising through our phlegm-ing, and especially PRAISING for GOD HEARS OUR GROANS and makes them into “music for His Ears”…

Amen

(PS Thank God for the rain again today – and the pollen for the trees and bees and the fruits of the season and the spirit – and the hope. I am also so thankful for joy in His Time – thank God for the rain in so many ways…)

Romans 8:26-32 NKJV

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Psalm 34:17-19 NKJV

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Exodus 19:3-6 NKJV

And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Isaiah 19:31 NKJV

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.