IMMEDIATE NEED – IMMEDIATE ANSWER
My mother
was the kindest, strongest Christian woman I ever knew. Yet, as a child, I
never heard her pray out loud. No doubt she prayed. Her life was hard as a
child, even though she didn't know it at the time. They lived in the country, had
no electricity, grew their own food, and of course walked to school.
The first
day of school that year the teacher told the class everyone needed to bring a nickel
for supplies. Mom knew there was no way her parents had the money and she was
not about to ask them, so she first of
all asked God to help her.
After
getting home from school, as she played under the porch, she prayed to God for help.
Suddenly
she discovered a nickel in the dirt! Thanking the Lord and telling her
parents about it, she knew God had heard her prayer!
Hearing
her story late in my life, I couldn’t help but wonder why she didn’t share it with
us as children. (Maybe it’s because our sweet mother never liked drawing attention
to herself.)
I’ve often
thought of that prayer answer, especially as we began our journey in studying
the subject of prayer – like the time my husband, Hugh, and I went to a prayer
workshop by Dr. Albert Lemmons in Missouri. Around that same time my brother,
Keith Roberts, had already been studying the subject and also attended a prayer
workshop by Dr. Albert Lemmons, held here at WFR Church. As you can imagine, our
prayer lives were challenged and we’re forever grateful to Albert Lemmons (you
can see his website at www.prayermatters.org) .
From that
point, God worked in our lives to teach us more about prayer; to pray more and
lead others to do the same. Over the years we’ve hosted prayer workshops and prayer
retreats. Hugh and Keith have both
taught prayer seminars through the years and continue to do the same today. Keith
and the Calhoun Church of Christ have remained faithful in helping us to grow
in prayer, even hosting an annual Prayer Workshop (see www.calhounchurch.org).
I believe
that out of our growth in prayer, we, at the White’s Ferry Road Church of
Christ; World Radio; WFR Relief; WFR Missions have come to emphasize “PRAY
FIRST”, then plan and continue to pray about the plans God has helped us to
make.
Even
though I have many important duties at World Radio, I consider my main one
to be in the area of actually praying for World Radio speakers and those that
give to this ministry.
To remind me of prayer’s role at World
Radio Gospel Broadcasts, I display this framed quote my brother gave me:
“How different the world would be if
we prayed before we made our plans, rather than asking God to bless what we
have decided to do.”
Website link: World Radio Gospel Broadcasts
