It all started from an application question in my final Bible study lesson for the season. The question was: ‘If you were to leave a legacy, what do you hope it would be, and how is God preparing you to leave such a legacy?’ Even though I wrote the study, this question caught my attention anew. That was last Tuesday.
After much thought and prayer, I concluded that I desire to be a godly woman with unwavering faith, a faithful and compassionate prayer warrior, and one who shares the gospel with whomever, wherever, whenever.
The next day, I had a dental appointment for routine cleaning. I entered the small waiting area. There was only one other person there – a woman, so I sat next to her. We exchange pleasantries, and then I asked, “Are you here for a cleaning, too? “No,” she said, “I’m here for a bone graft, and I am dreading this!”
She explained she had significant bone loss in her jawbone and the procedure the dental specialist would use to graft new bone in. “It is a very unpleasant procedure,” she grimaced.
“May I pray for you?” I found myself saying. “Yes,” she replied. So, I prayed asking the Lord that all would go well and that her body would not reject the new bone. Unbeknownst to me at the time, was that my hygienist waited quietly in the doorway to call me for my cleaning.
I turned to the woman patient still waiting, “You will be fine,” I said. She smiled a big smile, nodded her head, and said, “I know.”
“Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity to be a compassionate prayer warrior.”
The next day and out-of-town friend and I got together for lunch and a walk. She told me how her married daughter (twins and another baby due in April) had just learned that her husband was having affairs with multiple women for the past three years. Apparently, he had discovered a website on social media enticing married people to have affairs with other married people and still stay married. Much pornography was an additional enticement.
My friend’s daughter was devastated as was my friend to see her daughter crushed and broken. “Let’s pray,” I said. “We don’t need to stop walking; let’s just pray.” And for the next quarter mile, I prayed for my friend that she would be able to tend to her daughter with strength, calmness, and much love, and for her daughter, to run to Jesus who is a very present help in time of need – regardless of the size or the complexities of the need. I prayed for her husband that he would be broken and brought to his knees in repentance, and that through what I know would be a long process, there would be restoration of their marriage.
The next day, I read a plea for prayer from Geri M on ‘Your Lexington Neighbors’. “I desperately need prayers! My only daughter found out yesterday that she has low functioning kidneys. Her blood pressure is severely low. She’s been very tired, she has no energy, and no appetite. Prayers are needed! If you can find it in your heart to say just one small prayer, this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.” She had 260 hits on her post, and I made it 261. I do not know her, but God does. And so I prayed.
My first take away from asking God to make me a compassionate and faithful prayer warrior is that He is faithful and answers prayers that seek to honor him and to reach out to others with love and compassion in His name. I also learned how important it is to be intentional to welcome God into everyday life and to be amazed at God’s great love and compassion for His people. He is faithful and worthy of all praise and honor and glory for nothing is impossible for Him! In the meantime, we wait, we worship, we trust.