Answered Prayer

Let me tell you about prayer – it’s wonderful! Last night a prayer request went out for a two-year-old who fell and hit her head on concrete. Her parents and grandparents are members of our church and serve their Lord with loving praise. She was not responding to them as she should. As they rushed her to the hospital, they also sent out a prayer request.

The call came to our Thursday night fun and fellowship over dominoes and sixteen people immediately went to prayer for this child, her family and for a couple of others standing in need of prayer. The request then went, literally, around the world with connections to churches over the internet.

With praises this morning, we read a mid-night post from her grandfather: "Praise the Lord she just has a concussion and will be OK. She even gets to go home tonight. Thank you for your prayers."

“Thank you for your prayers,” is a beautiful phrase, acknowledging the care and love of Christ’s extended family for someone standing in need of prayer. At times, we all do. At times, we don’t even know what to pray for, and God understood that and gave us an answer:

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. (Romans 8:26 KJV)

Christ, knowing what would be happening to Him within the next hours, went to our Father in prayer:

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39 KJV)

He went back and prayed again, with just a couple of changes:

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:42 KJV)

Some would say that His prayer was ignored, that it went unanswered. Please look again at the close. “Thy will be done.”

Whether it’s Matthew 6:10 or here, it’s the example He left for us:

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (Luke 11:2 KJV)

Some will say God doesn’t answer prayer, that we just accept whatever happens. Untrue. We know what He provides.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV)

Thus we give thanks.

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Psalms 145:18-19 KJV)