Today’s readings
2 Corinthians 1:11b Then
many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us
in answer to the prayers of many.
I was reading another church’s
newsletter this morning. It contained a special ‘thank you’ note from one of
the members. He was expressing his gratitude for the many prayers that people
in his congregation had given to God, especially when he was undergoing some
serious and complicated surgery.
It’s wonderful to read those kind of
notes. Not only does it help the person express his gratitude to God and His
people, it also encourages others to use prayer as a means of obtaining God’s
help in different situations. As the Poet Laureate Lord Tennyson once wrote, “There is more wrought by prayer than the
world dreams of.”
Perhaps you or someone close to you
is going through a hard time, or some sort of crisis – whether medical,
financial, or relational – is presently occurring. Never underestimate the power
of prayer, especially when those prayers are sent up by a whole host of people.
At the wee church that I serve, we employ an email prayer chain so that
whenever someone is in hospital or experiences something troubling, the
majority of our people are quickly notified and the praying begins.
Even Mahatma Gandhi had this to say
about the efficacy of prayer: “Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly
understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.”
Questions for personal reflection
What type of
prayers do I usually bring to God? When have I seen prayer work in my life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You taught us how to
pray and You also showed the power of prayer. As Your followers, help us to
make prayer a regular part of our lives. Encourage us to see prayer as a sacred
means of being spiritually connected to You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If
you would like to make a comment or ask a question of today’s message, please
send him an email to traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is one of John’s latest bulletin drawings. It’s called “Mackintosh Poppy”
and has been drawn for Remembrance Day (Nov 11th) of this year. If
you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/10594576655_b2f63d3fe3_b.jpg
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