Have you ever lost sleep in hopes to help someone else get some? I remember a man that has gone into glory, that would have prayer meetings, not a prayer meeting where people got together for an hour and prayed before a service, but he would show up at church consistently every Friday night and pray through the night with purpose. Hearing of his dedication I was inspired to try to pray that way as well, but most every time I tried, I could only make it a couple of hours or so. There have been many times over the years and even more recently when I have prayed for others with a fervency and passion that has caused me to lose sleep, and the past few nights have been intense. Different people have shared with me the challenges of life that they face, family issues, financial problems, irrational thoughts and behaviors, nightmares, fears, health problems, and the list goes on. I have had some situations arise with the family of Christ that have caused me to feel shattered over what some are going through. Some of it may be a miscommunication issue, lack of care, and then a good portion has been about pride and arrogance. The challenging part for me is desiring and battling for peace in my life with all that is going on around me, because I have lived in chaos and with trauma for way too long. I pray quite often about what is written in *Psalms 141:1 Lord, I call upon You; hasten to me. Give ear to my voice when I cry to You. 2 Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.* I love what Charles Spurgeon said, “Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly. Others give but an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might.” I have never regretted one minute of the time that I have spent in prayer, but have regretted that I have not spent as much time in prayer as I could have grasping the rope boldly and ringing that bell with all my might. Many times we trust God with the big prayers and think He is too busy or not willing to take care of the small ones. I challenge you today as I encourage myself in fervent prayer to ask God to move the mountains in your life that cause you to doubt His ability to answer all of your prayers that align with His will because He can, and then wait expectantly to see what He is going to do. May the grace and peace of God be with you all, my BeLoved. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support for the ministry activities that God has entrusted to me at pastord.blog@gmail.com