Devotion in Motion: What we all need

¶ Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,  Romans  15:30 (NKJV)

By Bro. John L. Cash, “Country Preacher Dad”

 

I believe in prayer, and I live among praying people. In my life, I have seen God answer so many of my prayers and the prayers of others. Sometimes prayer changes the situation. Sometimes prayer changes me. Prayer doesn’t take away all of our problems, but, in my experience, it helps every situation.

Many years ago, I was in the midst of a problem that sorely tried my soul. I was worried all of the time. I had headaches and pains in my stomach.Every morning I would wake up at 4 A.M., and then I couldn’t go back to sleep again because I was thinking about my trials. This went on for weeks and months.

So, as is the common custom of my friends and family, I began to pray and to ask others to pray on my behalf. I got people to put me on “prayer lists” at churches near and far. I even wrote a letter to a group of contemplative nuns. I asked them to lift up my requests before the Lord. I asked them to pray for me, and as a closing comment I added, “Maybe I can do something for you someday.”  (I had in mind sending them a case of strawberry preserves or something like that.)

I was surprised and delighted when about a week later I received a hand-written note from one of the Carmelite Sisters, saying they would remember me in prayer. I was even more surprised at a comment that the good nun had written to me. She said, “You said that you hoped that you might do something for us someday. Please pray for us. Prayer is what we all need.”

Now when I read that sentiment, I felt a little like Goliath when David hit him in the head with the rock; “Nothing like that had every entered my mind before.” 🙂 Who would have thought that nuns (whose vocation is to pray to God both day and night) would express a need for prayer?  But it makes perfect sense. The Scripture lesson (at the top) reminds us that even the holy apostles asked for the prayers of the church. And on the night He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to help Him pray.

So put your faith in God this week. Ask others to pray for your needs, and take time to listen to and pray for the needs of others. We all have different situations, burdens, and joys—but one thing is the same for everybody. Prayer is what we all need.

Dr. John L. Cash is the “Country Preacher Dad.” He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and has spent the last 25 years being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississippi. (On week days he works at a public school.)  He and his lovely wife, Susan, and his sons, Spencer (age 19) and Seth (age 16) live in the parsonage next door to the Antioch Christian Church (which is a good church to “get praying” for you when you have a need.) He would love to hear from you in an email sent to jcash@scott.k12.ms.us.