Last time on the blog, you were introduced to our property neighbor, the SIA Safe Haven Home. In that post, Bethany walked you through the basics of what Safe Haven is and whom it serves. This post is for those of you who want to know how to get involved with Safe Haven in a consistent and personal way. You may not realize it yet, but you are a vital component in the success of Safe Haven. We need you!
The next question is, “how?”
“Pray without ceasing … for this is the will of God for you.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
Prayer: simple. Powerful. As stated by Paul to the Thessalonians, prayer is included in God’s will for us: we are called to pray. Prayer is why you are vital to the success of the SIA Safe Haven home: without you, unceasing prayer is an absurd aspiration, but with you it’s a reality.
Each room in Safe Haven was designed to meet the needs of families who will reside there. The rooms are unique, and can inspire prayer for the families in specific ways. As we virtually walk through the home, consider just a few ways you can join in praying for the families who will be using Safe Haven.
Stepping over the welcome mat and pushing open the brick-red front door, we enter the SIA Safe Haven home. Our eyes adjust to the bright light from the windows, and we are cordially greeted by the living room (completely furnished no less!). In this room, the family will be spending the most time together. They will fellowship and talk, watch television, play a card game on the coffee table, read a book after a long day, or watch the kids play on the carpet. This is a room crying out for prayer. As the family talks about planning their future, they will need God’s wisdom. You can prayer according to James 1:5-8 which tells us to ask God for wisdom in faith. We can pray that God would lay spiritual matters on their hearts, that they would have questions to ask each other regarding the Sunday sermon, and that they might pray to God in repentance and faith for possibly the first time. As they rest and play in the living room, we can pray that God would bring comfort and encouragement their way, either through persons coming to visit, or through each other. We can pray that they would grow closer as a family through this hard transition. As the light of the lamp reveals another disconcerting headline, we can pray God shows Himself as the true Light, and author of the Good News.
Open to the living area is the kitchen and dining area. I don’t know about you, but I remember many baking adventures with my mom in the kitchen. I also remember the glorious smells of my mom’s home-cooked meals just before we set the table to eat. I still remember eating breakfast and discussing God with my family over toast and orange juice. Similarly, we can pray that the families at Safe Haven would discover truth over breakfast and that they would be hungry for the Word as the smell dinner in the oven. Additionally, the kitchen is a symbol of providence. Thinking of this, we can pray that they would come to know the ultimate Provider of their needs.
There are two bathrooms in the house, one in the hallway and one in the master bedroom. The bathroom is one of the first things we see in the morning. It’s where we get ready for the day, it’s where we clean up, and it’s also where we can relax and get away. This room can inspire us to pray over the family’s priorities. As the family gets ready for the day, who are they going to put first? As they brush their teeth and comb their hair, who are they preparing to please? In the same way that a mirror reflects our image, pray the family will have opportunity to know and reflect God’s image.
Down the hall, there are 3 bedrooms. Imagine parents tucking their kids into bed, and themselves climbing into the covers after a long day. This room inspires prayer for the family’s rest, physical health, relational health, and safety. Ultimately, we pray that the family would discover how to rest in Christ and find solace in Him. While ever-desiring their salvation and sanctification, we can pray for their sleep.
With a sigh, we walk out the doors of Safe Haven, but our prayers remain. Join us as we are privileged to pray for the future residents of Safe Haven!
-Rachel B.