I recently wrote a blog about beginning an encouragement box, and one of my sweet friends from high school, JoniSue, commented on my blog post that she didn’t have an Encouragement Box, but she did have a Prayer Box.
I had to know more. (The only prayer box I’d ever possessed was a tiny silver prayer box charm that was attached to a bracelet I often wore until I lost it in our move from Texas to Indiana in 2006.)
JoniSue said she was inspired to begin her Prayer Box after reading the book, The God Box by Mary Lou Quinlan. In the book, a family finds their late mother’s “God Box”–actually they find 10 boxes stuffed with hundreds of hand-written prayers for family, friends and people she had never even met.
“That book touched my heart,” JoniSue shared. “I thought, I could write prayers for sick friends, my family, my husband, my animals…or even when something is weighing heavy on my heart.”
So, she began that very day.
JoniSue already had the perfect little box that she had purchased at a shop called, “Noah’s Ark” on Sanibel Island during one of their beach vacations. So, from that day forward, her cute little shell box became her official prayer box, and she’s been stuffing it full of prayers ever since.
“It does remind me to pray for people,” she shared. “Sometimes I’m not even at home and think of someone I need to pray for so I’ll put little notes in my purse to throw in the box later.
“It makes me more aware that even though these little pieces of paper sit in a box, they do not go unheard. I know God is aware as I write them…it just makes me happy.”
It makes God happy, too.
The Word says: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4, NLT).
Verse 4 confirms that it pleases God when we lift up one another in prayer. In fact, we’re called to do so.
And, our prayers make a difference.
James 5:16b says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (NLT).
JoniSue can say “Amen” to that. I can second it, and I bet you have stories of answered prayers, as well. Hallelujah!
You see, prayer changes things while worrying produces no positive results. So, rather than worrying about the needs in your loved ones’ lives or fretting about a situation you can’t do anything about, write a prayer note and stuff it into your prayer box.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (NLT).
That’s pretty clear, isn’t it?
Maybe like me, you’ve never had an actual prayer box. I have kept a prayer journal for years but I like the idea of a prayer box even more because it would be visible all the time. My prayer journal may be buried in my tote bag or at the bottom of my big purse, but a prayer box would sit in a place of prominence as a reminder to thank God that He is answering those prayers that are tucked away inside.
As I was writing this blog, I noticed a decorative treasure chest box I have sitting on my desk that currently houses paperclips but from this day forward, it will hold prayers, special prayer requests and precious answers to prayer.
A book inspired JoniSue to start her very own prayer box, and JoniSue has inspired me. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired and join us, too. Do you have a prayer box? Please tell me about it in the comments field below.
