Elton Richards – the pastor out of pasture – broke down prayer for me into four types. It’s a handy mnemonic: ACTS. A for adoration (praising God). C for confession (telling God your sins). T for thanksgiving (being grateful to God for what you have). S for supplication (asking God to help you).
–The Year of Living Biblically, A.J. Jacobs
Like most people, I’m pretty good at Supplication. But I also think that I’m good at Thanksgiving: when it’s an especially pretty day, when I get home safely in the pouring rain, when I get a sweet parking space. I try to get some Adoration in there too: it often goes hand-in-hand with Thanksgiving. I don’t do a lot of Confession, but maybe that’s something I should explore.
Last week found me supplicating silently all the time. Sometimes specific, sometimes just “Please please please.” When I was being specific I couldn’t quite bring myself to say, “Let me get this job,” but rather, “Give me the confidence and courage to nail this interview” or “Let this job be part of your plan for me,” since even I don’t presume to know what’s best for me and my life.
But on Friday, when I got the job, I was equally as enthusiastic (and speechless), sticking mostly to “Thank you thank you thank you!” I threw in some “You’re amazing!”s to mix it up. It’s things like this that make it really obvious that there is a plan for each of us, and that God has a hand always in our lives.
The job in question? Sales Manager at one of the major Bay Area theatres…incidentally the exact position I held when I worked at this company for four months in 2009. Which is another story altogether. But now I’m back, and while they have done some major renovations and overhaul on the building, it sort of feels exactly the same.
So here’s to the first day at a new job career, and to getting what you need (not always the same as what you want), and to prayers being answered.
And let’s not forget, a (brief) moment of silence for my (brief) subbing career. Which I enjoyed but was perfectly willing to give up.
The Cameraphone Diaries 
4 replies on “Congratulate me, O Friends!”
I hope your first day went well.
congratulations friend
Wow! how interesting to go back into the same position after a few months. It’s almost like you took an extended leave. I’m glad are happy! congratulations!
I am just reading through all of your blog posts! Love the new look, and CONGRATULATIONS on your job! I have done the ‘please please please’ with a job I really wanted more than anything (it didn’t work out 😦 but I’m going to keep trying!) I’m not religious, but I sure looked up at the ceiling and held my hands together! I loved your next post too, so happy you are loving your job, your nights free, and your weekends! It sounds pretty much perfect!! 🙂