Words by Al Blanton | Image by Ryan McGill
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
A man’s young son had become very sick.
It started one morning with a strider-like cough and, over the next few days, progressed to fever, fatigue, and a pitiful malaise that seemed to drain the life out of him. In the evenings, the boy was falling asleep on the couch, which was not customary.
His mother had taken him to the doctor on two separate occasions, but it didn’t appear that he was getting any better. In fact, he seemed to be getting worse. Dressed underneath his eyes were red patches, his skin looked clammy, and he was mumbling when he talked.
The boy’s condition had worsened to the point that his parents feared if things didn’t improve—and soon—they would have to take him to the hospital.
Unsure of what to do, the father called his family together to lay hands on his son and pray for him. He prayed,
Father, thank you so much for my son’s life. What joy you have brought our family through him. Lord, today, help us to live for you and not ourselves, cleanse us of all unrighteousness and forgive us of our sins, and help us to walk by the Spirit so we do not gratify the desires of the flesh. Thank you for doing that. Now, I lift my son up to you. I pray that you would be the Great Physician and eradicate this sickness from his body by the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray the blood of Jesus over him and ask that you would restore him to perfect health. Banish this sickness to the pits of hell where it belongs. I lift my son up to you and ask for supernatural healing, Father. I turn him completely over to you and ask that you would show him your goodness and lovingkindness and help him to feel better as soon as possible. In Christ’s name, Amen.
During the father’s prayer, the son began crying and sweating. The crying intensified until the prayer was over.
But then an incredible thing happened.
No less than a minute after the prayer, the son’s health was completely restored. His face had returned to its natural hue. His eyes were healthy again. His voice was restored to its natural timbre. And, best of all, his personality once again flourished. Within just a few minutes, he was in the kitchen, dancing.
When asked how he felt, the son responded, “I feel good!” His mother was ecstatic, saying, “I have my son back!”
The boy woke up the next day and was fine. And the next. And the next.
There was only one conclusion that the mother and father could come to: God healed the boy.
But that is not the end of the story.
Later that night, after the prayer, the father was sitting alone with his thoughts when he felt the Lord whispering to him, saying, “What do you think you’re praying for? Don’t you think I answer prayer?”
Which is a great question for all of us. Are we praying just to hear ourselves pray, or do we really believe He will do what we ask of Him? Are we praying because we are supposed to, or do we believe that God really does answer our prayers (and sometimes that answer is ‘yes’)? Are we praying because we hope something will happen, or do we pray expecting something to happen? Are we “mousy” and timid in our prayers, or are we marshaling up all the power of heaven with a Braveheart-like boldness?
God answers prayer. And sometimes that answer is yes. Sometimes, when we ask, He does what we ask of him.
And sometimes God heals little boys.
Now, don’t get caught up in the results like I once did. Just be obedient to Him in prayer, pray often, pray expectantly, seek Him, and leave the results to Him. Don’t get discouraged when you don’t get the result you want. Praise Him still in the result. And don’t stop praying altogether because the answer is ‘no’ (you’re going to get a lot of them, and the answer is no for a reason, even if you don’t know what that reason is).
Instead, make a daily habit of walking and talking with Him. Pray all day long. Pray for little things and big things.
Pray for open parking spaces. Pray for sore throats. Pray unexpectedly. Pray boldly. Pray for wisdom. Pray for good health. Pray on your knees. Pray in private. Go find an altar or prayer garden and pray. Pray with your wife. Pray with your friends. Pray with strangers. Pray before decisions. Pray for people you don’t like. Pray for hard relationships and before hard meetings. Pray immediately when you wake up and just before you go to bed. Pray together on the street, on the sidewalk, and wherever God calls you to pray (a man once prayed for me in the middle of the post office parking lot while I squatted down beside his car). Pray for, over, and with your children. Lay hands on your children or loved ones when they are sick, and pray. Make prayer such a habit that your daily internal conversations should be one long conversation with God. Your whole day should be filled with prayer!
And when you tell people you’ll pray for them, don’t just say you will, do it (sometimes, the Holy Spirit will lead you to do it right then). When you get a church prayer request or notice someone asking for prayer on Facebook, drop what you are doing (if feasible) and pray right then. Batter heaven with your requests. Ask, seek, knock—you never know when He might respond with, “Absolutely I will!”
What do you think you’re praying for?
God answers prayer. And sometimes, the answer is yes. WL
