March 27, 2024
LISTEN TO AUDIO
As the worship service came to an end, I noticed that Dave had fallen asleep. People fall asleep in church all the time, but this was new for Dave. He was usually alert and paid attention. As the congregation rose to leave the sanctuary, Dave remained, slumped in his chair. Friends went to his side and nudged him gently to let him know worship was over. Dave continued sleeping. In fact, we could not wake him up and we became concerned.
One of the members, who was a nurse, felt his pulse. It was weak. Finally, Dave woke up and we began to help him walk to his car. However, he collapsed and passed out and someone called
9-1-1. While we waited in the parking lot for the EMTs to arrive, I gathered the remaining congregation around Dave and we prayed.
The EMTs arrived and whisked him away. The nurse looked at me and said, “Richard, he had no pulse.”
Susan and I followed the ambulance to the hospital and waited while Dave was tended to. I was finally summoned and entered his room expecting the worst. Instead, I found him fully awake, seated on his bed, laughing with some of the hospital staff.
As it turned out, Dave was taking generic versions of a number of medications and he had a negative reaction to the interaction of the fillers that were in the generics. The fillers mixed together and had almost killed him.
Prayer is powerful. It’s the most important tool we have to pursue our mission in the world.
Our spiritual leaders have emphasized the importance of prayer time and time again.
Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24, NIV
And Jesus’s little brother James says, “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the LORD will raise them up.” James 5:15, NIV
Did our prayer save Dave’s life? Maybe. I don’t know for sure but, according the spiritual authorities, I certainly think it helped.
William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Church of England, observes with tongue planted firmly in cheek, “When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don’t pray, they don’t.”
John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, wisely concludes, “You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”
We need to remember that prayer is the first thing we do when we don’t know what to do.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, pray!
QUESTION
What do you do when you don’t know what to do?
PRAYER
Lord, we thank you for teaching us the importance of prayer. Grant us the wisdom to listen for Your answers and the faith to accept Your blessings.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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