Novena

a little info for those who i haven't excitedly told about novenas already . . .

after Christ died the apostles locked themselves in a room for nine days until they were sure of how to spread the gospel...

a novena is essentially a nine-day prayer. usually, it is said through the intercession of a saint or mary; st. jude, st. therese of lisieux, mary/our lady of guadalupe, etc. they can also be said straight to the Big Guy, too! one commits to spending time in prayer everyday for nine (usually) days, requesting something specific.

my novena was brought about by my discernment about my future plans; should i stay in indianapolis next year or not? i asked, through the intercession of st. therese, to know if i should stay or not. if so, send me a certain colored rose (right to me) by a certain date (the end of the nine days). if not, another colored rose by that same date.

during this time, my belief in the verses stating that if you ask, you shall receive and that prayer without belief is pretty much ridiculous was tested. for once in my life, i was really praying and believing that God would answer my prayer!

there were a couple close calls - one involving the color of rose that would indicate my staying indy, but i waited patiently for a sure sign . . . which brings me to the ninth day of my novena.

i was sitting at holcomb gardens (location of hedge-diving, from my previous post), having arrived an hour early to pray. i started to doubt that this novena would be answered, so i text messaged my sister to pray to end my doubt. she immediately started praying (from WI), so i decided to start praying myself. where two or more are gathered, right? i prayed that God would allow me to hear His voice.

and He delivered.

all of a sudden a light breeze began, and i truly felt like i was in communion with God. amazing. i looked around and saw nature as i never had before: through the eyes of the Lord. the trees, grass, flowers, etc. all looked so beautiful that they brought me to tears. then, i had to use the restroom. weird, but part of the story, nonetheless. the building at the gardens (which is usually open) was locked on all sides, forcing me to walk the beautiful path through plenty of nature to the music building to use the restroom.

on the way, i praised God for the small beauties we are allowed here through the nature around me. it is amazing to feel His presence so strongly. (have you ever felt this???) when i got up the hill, i saw three vw beetles (my favs). i noticed one with a gerbera daisy in it, one without any flower in the cute flower-holder each beetle comes with, and then couldn't see the other car. the driver got into the car at that time, and she had to drive straight at me to turn around and leave butler. when she drove toward me, with the wind still keeping me company, there were a certain color of roses scattered all across her dash and in her flower-holder.

at that moment, i cried, feeling priviledged that God would listen to me, to my seemingly-insignificant prayer. at that moment, the wind stopped. as i turned around, i could not see nature the way i had before. perhaps someone else needed that wind. who knows, but i am grateful for its presence.

God is good, and i am staying in indy next year. :-)

James 1:6-8 "But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways."

Matthew 21:22 "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."

John 16:23-24 "On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."