Far-Reaching Prayer

Upon returning from a mission trip in northern Spain, I checked my office mail box and found a letter from Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut.  The contents of the letter said, “Each week our people pray for a preacher in the United States.  As you can see from the enclosed bulletin, we will be praying for you and your ministry this week. Our people will especially pray for God to richly bless you and to protect you from the attacks of Satan.  They will be praying for your health, your family and your people, and that the Lord will greatly use you for His glory.”

Sometimes we think that our praying is so insignificant; that it doesn’t reach very far in its effects.   What these folks in West Hartford did not know when they were praying was that my wife and I were ministering in the Basque region of Spain at a retreat for missionary teens.  These young folks came from Mexico, six countries in Europe, and the island of Yap. Furthermore, when I read through FABC’s list of their supported missionaries, I noticed some familiar names.  Two of their family’s teens had attended the retreat, as well as another missionary who has served at this location in Spain for years. Point being, these dear folks at FABC thought they were just praying for us in East Tennessee, but their prayers went far beyond their intended destination.  You see, when you talk to our omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, transcendent God, your intercession becomes as big as your God and moves in ways and to areas that you would never imagine!

As you begin your day today, do not let your focus be what you think may be just simple prayer requests alone.  See them as going through our perfect, righteous High Priest and Advocate (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1) into the very presence of Jehovah Who then answers in awe-inspiring and glorifying ways!  As Henry Blackaby has said, “God is always at work around you, and He invites you to become involved with Him in His work at His invitation.”

So, get on your knees this morning and join God in far-reaching ways as He leads and provides.  Thank you, Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, for being faithful to pray and join God in His work!!