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Published Sunday, January 08, 2012 in Opinion

Pressing on

I have a friend who sends devotionals out at various times - usually when she feels led to share it with someone in our mutual circle of friends.

When she sent me one by former children's pastor and now full time mom Amanda White, I was eager to read it. I had never heard of Amanda White and I didn't recognize the link in my email. But I was eager to read it because this friend is a praying friend; one who stays in touch with God, one who will be on her knees praying for her friends whether or not they are in need, one who loves God more than the air she breathes.

If this friend sends me something, I'm going to stop and read it.

So it was with that heart that I opened the link on the computer. It took me to a page that is part of a blog at www.incourage .

Funny, but just moments prior to checking my email I was on the phone with my sister and I commented that I was ready to give up on the situation at hand. Ever since my father passed away on Labor Day last year I've been about to give up on something over and over again. What it is isn't as important as what I feel like God is telling me about it.

The web page loaded and I saw the title: I Will Not Go Down. Below that was an image of a red wall with a ladder against it. The devotional began with the words, "Do you remember Nehemiah?" Author Amanda White went on to share the story of how Nehemiah persevered in strife. When a crowd demanded he come down from restoring the walls of Jerusalem he refused and stayed with the task at hand. He didn't give up no matter how much he was attacked. As I read her comparison of Nehemiah to some of her own family members who have persisted far beyond their own personal discord, I knew this was no accident. God wanted me to read this devotional at this time.

My praying friend sent the exact words to me that would lift me up, keep me on track and help me to push through a very difficult situation. It's moments like this that honestly make me just shake my head and smile.

Who can deny God when His words are sent directly to you right when you need them? This isn't the kind of miracle that saves mankind and it may never make a difference to anyone else. But it's my miracle, perfectly tailored to my troubled heart. Even when I ignore my own prayer needs my heart is lifted up to God by caring friends and filled with blessings. All from God through a simple email and website link.

I believe God will use any vehicle to reach us whenever and however He chooses, and regardless of how amazing and frightful that might be, I'm thankful to know it. God knows where we are every moment of the day. For me, I'm wired. I'm checking email each hour, so it's a great way to get my attention. And to think of those times when I need it the most, God shares His message through a dear friend who loves me and prays for me.

I'm glad God knows where I am at all times. I'm thankful He knows my heart and has blessed me with people in my life who care enough to pray for me. I'm thankful for my friend who added me as a recipient on a very blessed email. I am right beside Nehemiah on that wall, placing stones and smoothing out mortar. Nehemiah refused to come down. If it was good enough for him it's good enough for me. As momma would say, I'm picking myself up by the bootstraps and I'm pressing on with a thankful and prayerful heart.

***

(Kathy Bohannon is a Georgia Press Association award winner and regular contributor to the Newnan Times-Herald. Kathy can be reached at kathybohan@yahoo.com )

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