Expect great things from prayer and trust God to answer in his time

In John 14:14, Jesus gives us a promise. He said, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

Wow, isn’t that powerful? But do we really believe it? Do we really believe that prayer is what changes things and that God keeps His word? Or would we be shocked if God answered? Would we be like the young pastor who went to pray with an older woman?

She was near death in the hospital, lying on a pillow and gasping for breath. He visited with her and then said, “I need to go, but would you like to have prayer before I leave?” The old woman said, “Yes.” He asked, “Well, what would you like us to pray for today?” She said, “I’d like to pray that I’d be healed, of course.”

The young pastor gasped but went on. “Lord, we pray for your sustaining presence with this sick sister. And if it be thy will, we pray that she will be restored to health and to service. But if it’s not thy will, we certainly hope that she will adjust to her circumstances.”

Suddenly the old woman opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She threw her feet over the side of the bed. She stood up. She said, “I think I’m healed!” and she went out the door. The last the pastor saw was her striding down the hall toward the nurses’ station, saying, “Look! Look at me!”

The pastor went down the steps and out to the parking lot. Before he opened the door of his car, he looked up and said, “Lord, don’t you ever do that to me again!”

Expect great things from prayer and we may be surprised at what God does.

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said, “… I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Pastor Chuck Herrington

Herrington Bethel Church