It had been snowing most of the day with special events and school cancelled. There was a certain thankfulness we had no need to travel, and with that in mind, we all took a deep breath of calm and felt it envelope each person at our home. We were hosting the Sozo Children from Uganda, and since their high energy worship experience was canceled; they relaxed and filled our house with singing, joy and laughter. Soon the group grew weary from their long days of travelling and performing, and sought a comfortable chair to enjoy the peacefulness brought on by the snow.
It was around eight, and my husband had slipped away from the group to watch a western in our bedroom. My daughter called very upset and she implored me to begin praying immediately. I ran to the bedroom, and my husband and I listened to our son in law administer CPR to our fifteen month old grandson Hayden. My daughter sensed my emotions were taking over so she spoke to me with authority, “Mom, I need you to pray for Hayden right now!”
She held the phone up to the baby and we prayed as if his life depended upon it. We prayed for God to breathe his breath into Hayden, and his body to be healed in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. We continued praying while listening to his earthly father offer encouraging words and administering CPR on this beautiful baby.
We finally heard the baby cry, and knew the ambulance was on way, but our prayer time was not over. My husband and I continued to pray for our grandson, the driver of the ambulance, the nurses and doctors who attended his care, and our daughter and son in law. The girls with the Sozo children’s choir sensed sirens going off in our hearts and joined with us in prayer. We all joined hands to intercede for Hayden, praying and singing praises of worship to God. We contacted our Pastors and friends, and other prayer warriors, to magnify our God, and multiply the power of prayer.
These emergency calls are frightening, sending adrenaline pumping and hearts pounding. But, with all this energy being expended, there is the potential to experience a feeling of helplessness. It is in these moments we can allow our emotions to take us over and we hit the panic button. Things like, the roads are horrific, the ambulance is taking forever, and I need to be with them, comforting them! You know, just for a second, I felt helpless. But God quickly reminded me, he is in control. His peace transcends all understanding.
In movies, short stories, and books, it seems like nearly everyone calls out to God when the sirens are blaring, and the situation appears hopeless. Would it not seem more reasonable to already have a relationship with God, and a foundation formed, before the boat is sinking? A prayer life can begin with “Lord I need your help, ASAP!” No eloquent words, simply talking to God about life. “Lord I need you to take over and drive my life in the right direction!” We must allow God to help us, and be a part of everything, and not just during emergencies.
We must talk to God about our pain, hurt, shame, past mistakes, and he will help us climb out of the stew in the crock pot of despair. Only God can help us stop marinating on old stuff. Only God can help us move forward. He will take feelings of helplessness to turn them into hopefulness. God tells us in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you do not know!”
Jesus taught his disciples by example concerning the power of prayer. Jesus himself, the Son of God, got up early in the morning to spend time communicating with His Father in Heaven. I know God will be your First Responder in times of emergency, but you are missing out on so many blessings, and the abundant life, by not calling upon the Lord for all things. I read this in a devotional earlier this week, “Minutes invested in prayer will give you a greater return than hours spent in ceaseless activity.”
Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith- filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.”
We are overflowing with gratitude by the ever improving health of Hayden. God heard and answered many prayers!
Remember, our prayer life should be a basic fundamental spiritual exercise done daily to build up our faith and confidence in the ways of the Lord.