I was moved to pray hours after the Haiti team landed safely. Donna Reedy, Connor, and I headed to Piggly Wiggly’s photo center to choose pictures from her hundreds taken in Haiti. She shared the stories behind each picture with tearful eyes. The scent, scars, and sadness of having to leave, when so many needed to be helped, was still with Donna. As I drove her home, her heart spilled stories that sent chills down my spine. She showed Connor pictures of children receiving the candy he had helped pack at The Learning Station. One little Haitian boy stood amidst the rubble of his home. His smile showed he had hope, but his eye had a huge spot that caught my attention. Donna told us it was a parasite. Picture after picture showed people having parasites removed from deep within their bodies, crushed fingers and legs being sewn up, make shift splints supporting broken bones, and long lines of hopeful people patiently waiting for help. Prayers should continue for the people of Haiti, Chile, Turkey, Israel, all countries, especially our America. Jesus said this in Mark 11:17 “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
When we turn on the news, flip through channels that show sins of every extreme during prime time, watch corruption creep into every crack and cranny the devil can capture, witness world wide disasters destroy everything but hope, see supernatural signs and wonders that proclaim the power of Christ our Savior, surely, we are moved to pray without ceasing.
Prayer is often reserved for special times and places. Jesus prayed wherever he went, whatever he faced, whomever he was with; portraying a prayerful spirit that people noticed. He didn’t need notes; he prayed boldly and bravely no matter who was listenting, prayed fervently and faithfully, always seeking the will of His Father. This season reminds me of his lonely time of prayer in the garden when drops of blood dripped from his brow. His time in prayer prepared him for what was ahead. Are we praying passionately, purposefully, and persistently as He prepares us for our tomorrows? Prayer is powerful and puts our worries, woes, and ‘what should we dos’ in proper perspective. He promises to be with us, even when two or three are gathered together in His name; He hears our prayers. Are you in prayer mode 24-7 or only in special times and places, or when a crisis creeps in crippling you and those you love? Praying is personal and precious. It sends you higher and higher than you’ve ever been lifted before.
Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, making sure His Father was honored, thanked, appreciated, revered, and respected. The Lord’s Prayer emphasizes His will being done on earth as it is in Heaven. Selfishness shouldn’t slip into our prayers, but how quickly it does. I type this story sitting near the big window at Tim’s Gift. Prayers are flowing from my heart more rapidly than thoughts are forming in my mind. I look around the room remembering the past, praying for customers and employees who blessed us, like Mr. Ed Colvin, whose loyalty to TIm and determination to drive and do things without depending on others make me so proud to call him friend. Customers’ faces and remembrances bring a smile on this rainy afternoon. A siren breaks the silence and screams disaster as the driver does his best to maneuver through the busy intersection. I stop again to pray for whomever they are heading to help, wondering if it is one of my own loved ones, hoping it’s not. Is that selfish? My prayers quickly turn to those who have happened upon a friend or family member in a life threatening, situation, to the medics firemen, dispatchers, rescue members and other volunteers who drop everything in hopes of saving lives. I pray for the children who enter the other room and read with Mr. Chuck, for the friend who shared New Beginnings with me last night, for my mother in law who sat with me in the doctor’s office, for my daughter in law who left a surprise gift on my desk today, for my son who took me to see Eric Clapton Monday, for the people waiting outside my window for the traffic light to change-only God knows their heartaches and happiness-bless them Lord. I pray for God fearing leaders in government to stand up for God’s way, for how You touch our hearts and guide us—like Sunday at Roanoke Chapel when I was led to preach from Ephesians, for Mrs. Tyler who was teaching from Ephesians when I entered their church, for the confirmation and sweet satisfaction that we are hearing from You, for the gentleman whose wife recently went to be with Jesus, for his sister who made a delicious banana pudding for him to take to the church dinner, for the good Word, food, and fellowship with many church families, for your Spirit that so sweetly moves in services where people are hungry to know You intimately- but hesitant to open themselves to freely worship and follow Your will, for the schoolbus drivers who just safely delivered our students, for the parents who pull in our driveway tired and tried from a stressful day, for the warm weather that is replacing the cold winds of winter, for good test results, for folks honoring Lent, for hearts to be humbled as we approach Easter, for the Matthis family who celebrate tonight their loved one’s life and entry into Heaven, for people who don’t know You, for people who do know You but aren’t connected, for the smell of good Mexican food from our neighbors next door, for the ending of a work day coming soon, for a home to go to when work is done, for a choir family gathering tonight to practice Easter songs to praise You, for Mr. Chuck who finishes up reading with the kids in the next room, for my grandson, Connor, who is among those kids and whose little voice just jolted me from my quiet time of praying and putting words on paper. One of Connor’s friends tells Mr. Chuck he loves ‘Tim’s Gift’. I hear my grandson say, this place is “God’s Gift!” I long to run to him, pick him up in my arms, squeeze his pint sized body ‘till he begs me to stop, but I sit at my computer and silently sing praises to my Father. I think on the verse so fitting for most of us today…”Be still and know that I am God.” Today, I have been still at my computer for hours, feeling the presence of God so powerfully, while writing a story about what moves us to pray. Connor’s childlike faith and words of truth touch my heart and bring tears to his Nana’s eyes. This IS ‘God’s Gift’… one that will never stop giving as long as He receives the glory and honor. I cherish this gift and will give Him my best as long as I shall live. My story moves me to pray; I hope it does the same for you! Amen
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