By Kristin Bonham

Scripture is God’s way of initiating the conversation; prayer is our response.                                                   ~ Mark Batterson The Circle Maker

While I was out of town over Christmas, I started reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.  It was perfect timing for starting a new year with 21 days of prayer and fasting.   I wanted to grow in my prayer life and strengthen my conversation with God.  I was ready for the challenge and made my list of all the things I wanted to pray about. 

Mark Batterson says in his book, “We don’t pray bold prayers because we’re afraid.  What if God doesn’t answer the way I want?”  I can relate to that because I’ve prayed bold prayers that were not answered the way I wanted.  I built up a wall and fear of God not answering influenced me as I made my list.  I have to admit, my list was safe. 

I felt God leading me to throw it in the trash.  Not that He didn’t want to move in my safe areas, but I felt God was challenging me to step it up and believe for more; to take a step of faith and trust Him with a bold prayer.  When I listened, what I got was a bold list!

When I think about praying bold prayers, I realize that I have no problem believing for big things in other people’s lives, but I hesitate to ask for myself.  In 2013, I want to change that and this verse is encouraging me:

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”           1 John 5:14-15 NIV

I’m praying and fasting specifically for 2 things.  They are big things!  When God answers, I will have no doubt that He did. 

I know that it was God’s timing that I read The Circle Maker before starting my fast.  I have renewed faith in God working through our prayers.  He wants us to join our faith with the situation or person we are praying for and bring it to Him with boldness!

Kristin Bonham is a pastor’s wife and the Women’s Ministry Director at Grace Family Church. She’s been married to Chris for 24 years and is mom to Taylor, Abby and Casey. She loves the beach, New York City and traveling with Pastor Chris to anywhere tropical. She collects books and reads some of them. Her favorite part of the week is Sunday lunch with family and friends around the table.