Prayer

Father, as I wake today, I give you praise and give You glory for all You are, I confess my sins and ask Your forgiveness, I give You praise and thanks for all You have done, and ask with a humble heart that Your will be done. Amen.

As another beautiful day starts here in Khelm, my thoughts and prayers are focused on the events of the coming week that will lead to our homecoming. Some of the “things” that we will need to do before we can come home include: (in their order as best I understand) traveling about 1.5hrs to the children’s birth village to pick up original birth certificates, getting passports prepared, traveling to Kiev so that we can have medical exams and visa prepared, and getting on a plane. It all sounds so simple from the chair I’m sitting in now, but it’s “normally” not. “Technically” the 10-day waiting period will not end until Wednesday at noon. It’s at that time the court will release the decree of adoption. Without this document, Anna can’t do any of the above mentioned things. Anna has told me that she will begin “working” tomorrow morning despite still being in the 10-day period focusing on getting everything done as quickly as possible so we can get home without delay.

If you were to draw a timeline plotting each step that needs to be completed, it could easily add up to 10 plus days. (2 days to get the birth certificates, 5 days for the passports, 2 days for medicals and visas, add in there a weekend and it’s easily 10 plus days).

Please join me in earnest prayer that God’s will be done in this process so that Natasha, Alona, Maks and I can come home without delay. We are all ready! I know God has a plan, and I pray that nothing get’s in His way of accomplishing it.

God has been so gracious through this entire process. He has shown amazing favor on His rescue of Maks, Alona, and Natasha and I call on Him to continue His deliverance of these three children in the final stages of this journey home.

God hears our prayers and answers them! I can testify to that. From the beginning of this journey, God has shown Himself. He provided the financial resources by calling so many people to give generously. He provided for peace and patience while the paperwork was started, completed, and submitted. He provided for a quick travel date. He provided for a fast court date. He provided a favorable decision without delay or difficulty. He provided for the care of Keely, Max, and Isabelle while we were gone. He returned Jenny home after only 2 weeks. He has provided health and safety. He has given me strength to be here. He has provided an opportunity for growth and a renewal of my Spirit. And He has built a bond with a father and three children. All these things He did as an answer to prayer. God has “rescued” these children in less than 8 months when the “normal” process takes 12 – 18 months. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

I believe that the foundation of this adoption has been built of prayer and faith. I urge you to join me in continuing both as we move into these last steps of the journey. God wants to hear from us!

Father, I praise You for who You are and Your greatness. I pray today Father that Your will be done in completing Your “rescue”. Father, I know you hear me and will answer my prayers. I pray Father that I remove my selfish desires and find a peace and comfort in knowing that Your plan is best. I thank you in advance for all You are going to do to bless these remaining days here. I am so thankful Father that Yyou have called so many people to support this journey through prayer, words of encouragement, and generous gifts. To You Father I give all the glory. I pray these things in Your Son’s precious name, Jesus. Amen.

I mentioned just a few of the answered prayers in our journey; here are some examples of God answering prayers in His Word.
Genesis 25:21
Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
2 Samuel 21:14
They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
2 Samuel 24:25
David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
1 Kings 9:3
The LORD said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
2 Kings 20:5
"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD.
1 Chronicles 5:20
They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.
Ezra 8:23
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Isaiah 38:5
"Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.
Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

God confirms in His Word that He hears us.
Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Jeremiah 29:12
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

God reminds us in His Word the posture we should take in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God.
Matthew 21:21
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.
Mark 11:23
"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

God tells us how we should pray!
Matthew 6:8-10 (New International Version)
8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.

God tells us who will pray for us.
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Amen.

David