The Year I Asked for Prayer

It’s so interesting being on the cusp of dying to the old and coming into the new. I just had a birthday a couple of days ago, and when it came time to cut the cake, I actually made a request - maybe we could skip the birthday song this time and instead say a prayer over my life.

Sidebar: this was big for me. I’ve never asked for a prayer in place of the infamous “Happy Birthday to You” song we’ve all become so accustomed to. Looking back, I realize I’d never even questioned it, it was just something I always went along with. But we’re called to be set apart, not to conform to the world.

I say this to bring attention back to God. Although it was my birthday and not just any ordinary day, I thought, why not give Him all the glory? And if anything, why not make my prayer request known? Everything here on Earth is temporary, after all, and I’d much rather have my place marked in the Book of Life.

The Lord knows our hearts - but in short, that request was denied, and the song prevailed. Yet in that moment, I realized I had died to the person I used to be and was stepping into something new.

In 1 Corinthians 10:31 it says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Going forward, I pray that my request for prayer will go forth into many more birthdays to come and even in the smallest of daily acts.