Don't Put Off Prayer

The other night I was writing and Mike was watching tv. All of a sudden he told me I needed to pray for a little girl who a friend had posted on Facebook. I said ok and kept writing. Next thing I know Mike had turned off the television and I heard him mumbling. He was praying for that little girl. Psalm 145: 18, "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."

How many times do we put something off? I usually try to pray right then but I was busy. The more I thought about it the more I thought what if that little girl needed those prayers right then. God's timing is always perfect. It reminded me of when my Granny was in the hospital at 86 with a broken pelvis. She and I were the only ones in the room and she told me to please pray for her. I said ok. Of course, I would be praying for her. Then, God convicted me. John 10: 27, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." She asked for prayer and I needed to pray. I walked by her bed and took her hand and prayed for her. 1 Timothy 2: 1, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people."

Granny knew she was going to have to go to a "rehab" facility for a while and I knew she did not want to. I asked God to give me the words that Granny needed to hear and then I went and held her hand and prayed for her. I thanked God for Granny's life and that my girls and I were so close to her. I told Him I knew He loved her even more than we did. I thanked Him for the gift of Salvation so Granny would know where she was going. I asked for God's will to be done. 1 John 5: 14-15, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." I knew Granny was worried about a couple of things and I thanked God for taking care of those situations. I asked for healing: spiritual, emotional and physical healing. It was Thursday afternoon and shortly after that my brother and I told her we loved her and hugged her bye. We had a three hour ride home.

The next morning Mike had an outpatient knee surgery. After we got home we got a call that after Granny finished her lunch her minister was getting ready to leave so she prayed with Granny. When she said, "amen" and opened her eyes Granny had died. I was so thankful I had prayed for her. Especially for the things she had told me she was concerned about. God had healed her with the ultimate healing. I was sad but grateful. Grateful that Granny did not suffer, did not have to go to "rehab", did not have to ever move out of her house or give up her driver's license (a huge deal to her), for all of my wonderful memories, for all of my girl's memories and mostly that I will be reunited with her in Heaven. That was the last gift I could give to my Granny and I am so thankful I listened to God's nudge.

When we follow through with God's nudge we experience joy. Even when things do not end the way we want we know God's way is the best way. We have joy in knowing that we are getting to team up with God in doing His will. Of course He does not need us but what a blessing that He invites us to go along loving others!