Devotional - May 6, 2004

We're amazed when we hear of miracles. And when those miracles involve happen in our life and occur in a timely manner, we praise God. It's then we're convinced that God hears and answers our prayer. But why are so surprised? Doesn't Scripture say that God hears and answers when we come to Him in the right way?

A royal official, what we'd call a top-ranking civic leader like a mayor, came to Jesus, he asked Him to keep his child from dying. Jesus spoke in what some might call a harsh tone when he criticized people for always looking for sign. Now, I've got to tell you, I'm not sure Jesus who Jesus was talking to. This official wasn't looking for a sign; instead, he just wanted his child to live.

Almost without missing a breath, the official asked Jesus again to come heal his son. I've got to tell you, if this man felt Jesus' words were directed at him, he had a lot of gall to ask again for his son to be healed. Two things then happened that grab my attention and should interest you, especially if you're searching for a way to be a more effective pray-er.

The father's begging got Jesus' attention, but his persistence got the answer he sought: Jesus promised that his son would live. Next, Jesus told him he had what he asked and that he should go back home alone. There was no need for Jesus to attend him; it was done! The man was at a crisis point in his belief because he could either believe what Jesus said or consider he had just been discarded for the sake of more important business. He choose to believe what Jesus said, even if his emotions caused him to question it.

When he arrived home and found his son was healed, he asked when it happened. When he learned it happened exactly when Jesus commanded it, his faith was realized. When the word went out as to what happened, the whole household believed in Jesus.

Today is recognized as the National Day of Prayer in America and millions of people are praying today who may have not done so yesterday. The reason? We are thanking God for his blessing and are praying for our nation and her leaders. As a nation "under God," we've come to resemble something far less. For whatever reason, sin is prospering in our land unlike ever before and the church of Jesus Christ is in conflict of faith.

Perhaps today will be one where you will be encouraged to become a man or woman of prayer. I hope so, but more than anything else I hope you begin to treat each day as a "day" of prayer. I further hope we'll take encouragement from the example of Jesus and the official and begin to practice what we preach. True prayer takes dedication, persistence, belief and action.

I love what evangelist Peter Lord once said, "What you do is what you believe; everything else is just religious talk!

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Ru. 2:1-4:22 Jn. 4:43-54 Ps. 105:16-38 Pr. 14:26-27 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society