[Faith-talk] Good Night Message for Friday, November 2 2012

[Paul]

Hello and good evening to my fellow North American saints of the Most High God, and a good Saturday morning or afternoon to the rest of you wherever in this world you happen to reside in.  How was your day today? Mine was good, by God's matchless grace and His providential care.

Ruth O'Neil is back again with another of her insightful and thoughtful articles simply entitled "Prayer," rendered as follows:

Imagine discovering that you have to cram your whole life into thirty days. That is how it felt when I found out my mother had cancer. That is what changed my prayer life.

I believe in intercessory prayer; so I prayed for God to heal her. I did not want to believe that He would do anything else but heal her. She was a beautiful Christian woman and still had children to raise.

One night my husband and I were talking when he asked, "What if your mother dies? Will you be able to handle it?"

I hated to admit it, but he made me think of things I had pushed aside. I realized she would not always be a phone call away, even if she lived for several more years.

As I started saying the usual shallow prayer for her to return to health, I added something new. I prayed, "Lord, You know I want her to be healed, and I know You can do it. But if You take her home, please prepare me."

People tried to comfort me by saying, "If she does pass, it will be a relief to your family to know that she isn't suffering." I loathed that!

I did not believe that knowing my mother was in heaven would be consolation. She was needed here.

Then one evening the phone rang. I really hoped that someone had dialed a wrong number. "Hello?"

My brother's voice was quiet with sadness. "Mom's gone."

I hung up and expected the tears. A few came, but they were almost forced. I felt guilty. I should have been bawling my eyes out.

After the funeral, my husband again made me think. He said, "Your family seems to be doing OK. You are all much better than I thought you would be at this point." That was when I realized that God had answered my prayer about being able to handle whatever He sent my way.

Through this, I have really learned to lean on God. My favorite verses are Romans 8:26-27: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

It is amazing that His comfort is always there, waiting.

I hope and pray that this article ministered to you as it did for the undersigned a number of years ago.  And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, throughout this night or day and especially in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul