In Search of the Perfect Prayer Bush
by Cathy Baker
Do you sometimes go to a particular spot to pray?
I have a friend, Dee Dee, who lives in the NC hills. Actually, a hollow. When introducing me to her several years ago, Beth used the words prayer warrior. Now I know why.
Many a day, Dee Dee has headed outdoors to her prayer bush on my behalf or that of my family. At times she places a ribbon on the bush as a reminder of a particular request. I’m hoping she’ll blog in more detail about her special place of prayer in the near future.
While a bush itself holds nothing special when it comes to prayer, I took two things into consideration when picking mine out:
- I searched for an evergreen as a reminder that Jesus always lives to intercede for me. (Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25). And unlike deciduous shrubs, evergreens remain the same regardless of the season. (Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8)
- Fragrance was a must. Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Psalm 141:2
The winner? A four-year old Fragrant Tea Olive. It just so happens to be one of my favorite shrubs (which explains why I’ve planted 6+ in our yard.) It’s not the prettiest shrub in my yard, but then again, neither are my prayers. They’re simple, not eloquent or poetic, just as my Father desires.
So, how about you? I’d love to hear one of your favorite places to pray and/or what shrub you would choose from your yard to use as your prayer bush.
Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this
fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by
those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15
