Memory Lane

Today Hannah was at a friend's house. I've prayed for this friend often and felt especially compelled to pray for her while Hannah was there. Somehow while I prayed for Kelly, God took me down Memory Lane. It was as though He wanted to encourage me in my praying for her.

I thought of a neighbor from years ago. I prayed for her diligently while we were neighbors. She is a believer now. I had nothing to do with it, she became a believer when we were no longer neighbors. God reminded me that I prayed and she's now a believer.

I thought of Ward. He was out of our lives, so to speak, when he came to Christ. Again I didn't get to play any role in his conversion. I prayed the whole time we knew him that his heart would be softened and be drawn to God. He too is now a believer.

I thought of my girlfriend who lived common-law for years. She said her partner would never marry and had been upfront and clear about that, even after they had a child together. But after 12 years common-law, he decided he wanted to be married, even though he vowed he would never marry again. Again I can't take any credit for words of wisdom that swayed the situation. But I prayed.

My dear friends Wendy & Ed. They entered our lives when she was diagnosed with cancer. I prayed boldly for her healing and I prayed specifically for their salvation. Now they are solidly committed to God and even leaders in their church. I played no role in their mentoring or anything, but prayed diligently.

Then there are *******. There was a time when I pleaded fervently for all of them. I remember the day amazingly well when I prayed, "God, whatever it takes bring **** to You." With clarity, I heard God, not audibly yet very distinctly, say, "Anything Valerie? Anything?" It was so clear in my head that I knew I mustn't answer flippantly. I left that prayer time without answering the question. For over 24 hours I contemplated how bad "anything" could be. Having come up with my verseion of the worst possible thing, I came back to my place of prayer the next day and answered, "Yes Lord, whatever it takes, bring him to You."

How niave I was in my ideas of "anything." In my wildest of imaginings, I never would have known how much "anything" would affect me. But he and his extended family came to God, but I was removed from them by that time.

Recalling these prayers is encouraging. Oh I could recount dozens and dozens of answered prayers, but these particular stories tell of answers to prayers that involve the changing of peoples' wills -- the grandest of all answered prayers, I believe.

This stroll down memory lane in no way gives me the big-head. God took me out of all those relationships before He did His great work. (Perhaps I would have a big-head had I been in the thick of their conversions). I don't even know if my prayers made a difference at all. Perhaps they would have been converted whether I had prayed or not. But one thing I know is this: I got to participate with God in something. Like the kid on the bench at the basketball game who never plays but gets to call himself a team member. I did nothing to change their hearts, to help win the game, but I was there for part of the game. I participated with God by praying.

The take-away value of all these thoughts for me is: Keep praying for Kelly. I may never see her come to Christ, but she may one day, and it will be a really good feeling to again say, I participated in the game. Sure I may have just sat on the bench, but I was on the right team.