Prayer… The untapped Gift for a believer

 to lead a rewarding life

by Babs Kincaid

Glorious prayer gave birth to one of my favorite mile markers in my life that occurred in a beautiful Easter pageant. I had been attending a small church and had been privileged to play the role of Mary. For me that was both intimidating and humbling! I surprised myself by agreeing to take on such a daunting assignment! I struggled with believing that I could do justice to such an eloquent task! I kept thinking it is going to take a miracle for me to do a credible job at this task! As we rehearsed the inspiring pageant, I felt so out of my comfort zone! I felt like I was just going through the motions at best! I was sure the choir director could sense my uneasiness! Easter is my favorite holiday beside Christmas, so I didn’t want my hang-ups to detract from the magnificent message of eternal life in Christ! The truth I knew in my heart was this promise: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 As I continued in prayer, I felt my confidence shift from myself to God! Talking to God has always made a huge difference in any challenge I have faced!

That Easter Sunday, it was almost as if that moment in time I was transported to “the Place of a Skull, which is called Golgotha, where they crucified Him…” John 19:17b in Israel. That morning, all other sounds and faces faded away and I believed I was there at the grief-stricken cross of Jesus. I removed the crown of thorns from the cross, studied it, and fell to my knees in excessive pain with tears streaming down my face. It was as if Simeon’s prophecy hit me like lightening, “a sword will pierce through your own soul also” Luke 2:35a. The Holy Spirit allowed me to feel a fraction of what Mary might have felt. When it was over, I marveled at what had just transpired! I mention it to my choir director and he said he had prayed all night for the cast by name. Wow, I felt so humbled and grateful for his fervent and passionate prayers! Truly the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16b Because of all the collective prayers God moved mightily!    I can’t tell you how fulfilling that experience was for me. Literally it was a moment in time that took my breath away! I felt like Heaven had opened up and poured out a tremendous anointing on me! What was phenomenal to me that day was my experience for the second service was precisely the same! I felt like the powerhouse of the Holy Spirit was moving through me in a wondrous way! What a gratifying gift from God!

“He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6b

      The day that God flipped a public speaking experience of mine from catastrophe to celebration because of humble prayer was unforgettable! It was a mile marker in my life, I will never forget. God had divinely placed a joyful mentor named “Uptown Patsy Brown” in my life. One day she asked me to share one of my original devotions with her women’s group. I said yes, even though I was shocked and terrified at the same time. I invited my prayer warrior mom to come for moral support! My car was meticulously packed with my Bible, purse, a beautifully wrapped package, and my easel of paper. In my frenzy to get ready, I had forgotten one key item! You guessed it…..my notes! Yikes! Way to crash and burn before I even begin right? My mind flooded with fear! I felt like I was about to jump out of a plane with no parachute! “Help God” was my silent prayer! I opened the group with prayer and confessed to them: “Unless God brings the message today we will not be hearing anything but silence!” Well, my prayer ended and timidly I opened my mouth to speak as I smiled at the welcoming faces! God showed up majestically to my great delight and relief and brought an inspirational message! Yea God for answering my contrite prayer! My mom and I both were amazed at what came out of my mouth! Check it out: “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13 Glory to God! Yea Jesus! What a Heaven drop blessing! What a Heavenly Father, who I can always count on to be my knight in shining armor! Talking to God is truly a privilege and His faithful responses to my prayers are a double reward!
      
      Take away: I wonder how many Heaven drop stories I could share if I sought out God more often in fervent prayer for my solutions?