My Prayer Box

The annual women’s retreats have always blessed me.

But one year, the afternoon session I chose to attend taught me a walk with Jesus that would enhance my prayer life. The topic of the session was prayer, especially how to use a prayer box. My sister in Christ who led this breakout session shared her personal experiences using a prayer box. Her prayers had resulted in miracles and many other answers to her prayer requests. I picked up my “starter pack,” knowing that my new prayer box would replace my prayer poster board where I had previously pinned my requests. In my daily prayer journey, I habitually opened my poster board with the attached sticky-note sheets and added many more prayer requests over which I prayed. The next day, after returning home from that women’s retreat, I was determined to go to a large chain craft store to purchase my own fancy prayer box.

As I parked my car, I wished I could bump into the seminar’s prayer-box facilitator so she could lead me to the section where I could find a box.

After all, we live in the same city. But we rarely run into each other. I entered the store and tried to dismiss my wishful thinking. Yet I found myself looking at people in addition to looking for a box. At one point, I took a step backward to take a second look at someone who resembled my acquaintance. But it was not her.

So, I searched for a store employee to help me find a small decorative box. As I walked an aisle to the back of the store, I suddenly turned around and glanced behind me. There, further down the aisle, I saw my sister in Christ.

I called out her name. She greeted me, and I explained how God had led me to find her. He had heard my modest prayer and the desire of my heart to be able to see her so she could help me find a prayer box. Happily, she led me to the section where the boxes were located and helped me pick one out. With excitement, we took a picture of our encounter. At home, I moved my sticky note prayers and praises to my new prayer box, where I would also date the answered prayers. This is my connection to my heavenly Father for others and myself. God knows the desires of our hearts.

What a blessing to know that He answers the simplest prayers! He knows how important they are to us and, therefore, to Him.

Margo Peterson