This week is JBC’s “Five Days of Prayer” and I am getting up every morning this week at 4:30 am to be ready for the start of prayer at 5:00 am. We have prayer for 10 hours each day for the 5 days and my goal is to be at 8 hours each day minimum so I usually don’t head home until at least 9:00 pm. After I get home I write this blog, lift weights for 30 minutes, run on the treadmill for 30 minutes, and ride my stationary bike for 30 minutes. I read 14 chapters in my Bible, memorize verses for 30 minutes, and read 20 pages in whatever book I am reading. I listen to a podcast while I am on the treadmill and I do my reading while riding the stationary bike. I usually manage the schedule fine every 3 months when this prayer event rolls around, but last night our daughter Sally and their 3 kids flew in from Hawaii where they live, so I didn’t get to bed until 2:00 pm. Today I am dragging around feeling like an old man. I did get in about a 30 minute nap at noon so I can be coherent today when I pray. Even though I am feeling very weary today, I work hard at my self-talk so I am rejoicing over the full schedule, the opportunity to pray a lot with people that I care about, and to spend time with my kids that I don’t see much. The worst thing would be to feel sorry for myself or be grumpy to others because of being tired. The cool thing about me is that I can take 5 minute little cat naps all day long whenever it is convenient, all I have to do is close my eyes and I am asleep, it is a gift! I remind myself that God answered Daniel’s prayer in the Old Testament in his “extreme weariness”. It seems to be a law of God that our service to Him on behalf of others is effective and bears fruit in direct proportion to the cost to ourselves. Easy and convenient service, whether it is praying, giving or serving has minimal results, but that which takes great sacrifice like Daniels “extreme weariness praying” results in significant fruit. I like the thought that I am bearing much fruit for God and for others, and the price that I am paying for just five days of little sleep seems more than worth it.