A Devotion and Reflection from N’isa FreedomWalker
Grace for Today: One-Minute Devotion from April 2, 2020
“Being in anguish he prayed more earnestly.” – Luke 22:44
“There are enriching elements in prayer when you experience glorious intimacy with God and are filled with inexpressible joy. But true prayer often has a seriousness that touches on the deeper issues of life. When you pray that God will help you grow spiritually, or show you the right way to love, you will experience the full impact of the challenge of prayer.” Such prayers are essentially between you and God, but you soon discover that they touch other people as well. As God lays people on your heart, you begin to understand the responsibility of prayer. Sharing in this privilege strengthens you to love towards God and your fellow human being.
Reflections
Prayer has always been a go-to for me. Prayer is powerful! I learned about its profound power as a young girl of about 5 when my youngest brother was a baby. One day he fell ill. He couldn’t breathe and his lips were blue. He couldn’t get air. I was sent out of the room. As soon as I hit the hallway, I knelt and prayed a simple prayer. I asked God to save my brother. No fancy words or talk. As soon as I said “Amen,” I heard him cry! God saved my baby brother then –and how many times more that we were and are unaware of?!
It was not the first time I witnessed the enormity of the power of prayer that so obviously spelled out G-O-D.
My paternal grandpa once had an emergency where the doctors told us they had to do surgery or he would die, but he also might not make it through. So, I asked if we could all pray, and my family all took turns. We were still praying a short time later when they were back. Since they came back so soon, we thought the worst. But they were visibly shocked and dumbfounded… when they went in, the problem was gone! The surgeon said there was no medical or scientific explanation. He said this indicates that there is a divine power out there.
For more wonderful stories in which God answers prayer, check out Genesis 24:1-51; 1 Samuel 7; and 1 Kings 3:1-15, 4:29-34. And for reassurance of God’s love for us in all circumstances and despite sin, see Nehemiah 9, Jeremiah 29:11, and Isaiah 41:10-13!
Of course, these powerful answers to prayer don’t mean that we get everything we ask for, when we want it, how we want it. We must have trust and faith in our Abba to know what is best for us. For as God said through Isaiah (55:8-9): “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
The last thing I want to share is something my maternal Grandma taught me. My grandpa was a grouch and also committed sin in their marriage. Still my Grandma loved him with all her strength. She prayed for him (and all of us) every day, consistently and unceasing. Most people would give up in some way. Not her! She said that Jesus doesn’t give up on us, and she wants to do as He does. She absolutely emulated Him. My Grandma also said: it is hard to hate someone you are praying for regularly, persistently without ceasing.
My Grandma died the summer of my 1st semester of college. She never saw the fruit of her diligent prayer. But shortly after she fell asleep in Jesus, my grandpa started going to church. One plants, another waters, but it is God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
In all of this, we see: all things are possible! For our heavenly Father is the author and creator of possibility. And so I pray his possibilities and blessing for you, my St. Peter family: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).
Your sister in Christ,
N’isa S. A. FreedomWalker