Pray EXTRA

By Mika Hartman

Since Hudson’s birth, many new prayers have filled my FaceTime’s with God. I have wept and begged that He hear me, I have called on Him in my new fears and thanked Him in all of Hudson’s achievements and for his iron strength. I have always prayed, but Hudson forced a deeper needed connection with God; not for only Hudson, but for all born and unborn. My prayers are bigger now. Maybe it’s my age, I turned 47 today, maybe its this priceless journey, maybe it’s all the planted seeds of my own and seeds given to me that are growing, but I can feel God loving and changing people through me. Prayers work. God hears us.

Last Christmas, I was asked by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America to join an amazing list of people who were weekly praying for the overturning of Roe Vs Wade. Mississippi was leading this courageous fight and many impressive leaders showed up to pray for its victory. How I was on this list will always be a crazy mystery, but God. Marjorie Dannenfelser led many of the weekly “On Our Knees” prayer calls that Vice President Mike Pence, Governor Tate Reeves, Dr. Robert Jeffress, Alveda King, Senator Tim Scott, Father Frank Pavone and others, including me, were on, begging for this victory in His name. We were on our knees praying for all babies; not some, but all.

Here was my prayer on December 27th, 2021:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for all You do for us, Your children. Thank You for Your Word. Thank you for the gift of life that You so lovingly trust us with. When You chose Mary to be first to love and care for Jesus, she felt You. She listened. She carried out Your plans… even unknown and definitely unplanned, she followed and trusted You. May we all be better Marys. And I thank You for Joseph; his understanding and willingness to trust You, too. Dear Lord, may we all follow Your calls and fulfill Your plans for us with zero hesitation. You are King and all Glory is YOURS. The law of You, Lord, is perfect, reviving the soul. Dear Lord, I pray that the Christmas story would be a vivid reminder that You use broken people; we should understand that we are all broken; yet You still claim our worthiness. We all need You and Your love. The King of Glory entered Earth as a baby and Your plan to deliver us from sin was fulfilled. Thank you. I pray this evening for a culture change dear Lord, a change of hearts that knowingly or unknowingly still

discriminate… that the world see all babies worthy of life, the way You intended the way You created us. May the world find peace that we are all created in Your Image and that You knew each one of us before we were in our mothers womb. Father I ask that You keep hearts steadfast as we enter into this new year; That 2022 be the one history remembers as the year for life. Protecting all Your gifts and giving Your plans the priority to be fulfilled. May we protect the babies under Your will and make it law of our land. And Father, this is so dear to my heart, I pray for a world that my son and his friends born and unborn are no longer judged by their disability, but seen as You see them; a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do they prosper… may the fruit they bear, be known by all as good and sweet, Lord. I firmly pray for all of these things in YOUR name.

Glory to God in the highest heaven. Amen.

I remember this night so perfectly. I couldn’t get the phone to connect, they were running late and the line wasn’t opening. My time was running out for the call to start, yet, I was calm. Marjorie Dannenfelser’s voice came over the call with seconds to spare and I was on my largest call ever. I was at my dad’s being only two days after Christmas. It was the perfect time for me to share after such a wonderful celebration of Jesus and His birth. How God’s plans for all lives are known before they are even conceived. My daughter listened and came in the room after and asked if someone wrote this prayer for me. I giggled. That told me that I nailed it, by I , I mean Gods message was spoken through me. What a Christmas gift it was for me to know my voice has power and my message would save lives and change hearts. I don’t know how many listened that night, but it doesn’t matter to me; that call was God using me for the plan He had for my life EVEN BEFORE I was conceived.

This Christmas has a very Grinchy feel for me in the most wonderful way; not how the movie starts, but that ending. Hudson only watches a few movies and he watches them daily, over and over. This year, he has added “The Grinch” as a favorite on repeat. We all know the story, “And what happened that day? Well, In Whoville they say - they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinch’s, plus two!”… the perfect recipe for Christmas: love, being selfless, giving to those who need it most, togetherness and prayer. Be who the Grinch became.

Love thy neighbor again. Be kind to those who cross your path. Invite EVERYONE to the table. Lord, love people through me.

Prayers aren’t like Christmas wish lists; pray for everything and everyone. Pray EXTRA all year round.