I Can Pray

A few years ago, I got to know Judy - a new teacher at our school. She started attending Bible study with me, and, through her study of God’s Word, learned that God wanted more than just church attendance and tradition – He wanted a relationship with her. One morning, she pulled me aside to tell me that she had prayed with her Bible study leader the night before and had accepted His invitation to be her Savior. With tears in both of our eyes, we rejoiced in her new life in Christ. Through the next couple of years, I prayed for her as she faced the recurring storm of infertility, ending with the joyful news of a pregnancy. Another storm hit when she found out that both she and her husband were carriers of the gene that causes cystic fibrosis. She shared this news with me with tears in her eyes, but with the calm assurance that the same God who created life in her womb would take care of their little one. Days later, the doctor called with the news that there had been a mistake – her husband was not a carrier. Aimee Juliette was born in September, and Judy and her husband thanked God for their beautiful gift. Last week, I received a text message from her asking for prayer again. The newborn screening had tested positive for cystic fibrosis and they would need to take her into the hospital for further testing.

Another storm. Another call for prayer. Another chance for God to comfort this young mother and strengthen her growing faith.

Yesterday, I received this message:

Good evening my dear friends. As some of you know, we had the sweat test today to Aimee to confirm that she has cystic fibrosis. Just to let you know that children that test positive in the newborn screening – 99% of the cases, children end up having the disease and there is that 1% which is rare. Well let me tell you, Praise the LORD he made a miracle. Aimee has tested negative. She will still be in observation. When I get a chance I’ll explain things better but as of now she does not have it. God is miraculous. He has heard your and our prayers. Thank you thank you for your support and friendship. May God bless you all.

God's people prayed and He answered.  Do you have a similar story of answered prayer?

My Bible study teaching leader spoke about prayer last week and she shared a quote by Jennifer Kennedy Dean, director of The Praying Life Foundation, that said, “What God wants to do on earth He will often do through His intercessors.” We see examples of this every day - healing, financial provision, safe travels, unexpected blessings. Sometimes we experience relief from our storms, and other times we experience peace as we walk through them. God is at work through it all.

In Acts chapter 12, we read about Peter’s miraculous escape from prison. Acts 12:11 says, “Then Peter came to himself and said, 'Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.'” Peter was in prison, God's people prayed, and prayers were answered. Thomas Watson is quoted as saying, “The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel.”

God gives us this mysterious, miraculous opportunity at any minute of every day – an invitation to humbly enter the throne room with our praise, our thanksgiving, our confessions, and our petitions.

2 Chronicles 7:14 

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Pray, pray, pray and God WILL answer. Sometimes He will calm your storm and other times he will wrap His loving arms around you and calm your spirit. He knows, he hears, he cares. And all we have to do is pray.