The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(a repeat from several times through the years)
"Passing Prayers"
"He alone knows the true needs of those for whom we pray. Simple and sincere requests that acknowledge and display our awareness of this truth may often result in our wisest and most effectual intercession."
When we get to Heaven, a fellow saint may introduce himself to us, whom we never knew upon the earth. With a grateful heart and a smile, he may say, "I want to thank you for that prayer you prayed for me on August 22, 2023. "The Lord did wonderful things in my life and the life of my family in response to your intercession."
In all honesty, we may have to respond, "It is kind of you to say that, but I must confess that I did not know you during our earthly lifetime. You must be mistaking me for someone else." Our fellow believer will persist, however. "No, it was you," he'll insist. "You passed by me in a store on that day, and the Holy Spirit caused something about me to get your attention. You responded with a simple request. 'Heavenly Father, I do not know that person or anything about him. But You know all. I therefore ask You to work in his heart and life according to Your glory and his need.' " Our brother will conclude, "Our Heavenly Father answered that prayer. It will take me awhile, a long while, to tell you how much He did in my heart and life because of your request. Thankfully, we have a long while, so here's what happened..."
Certainly, our Lord receives all glory for answering such "passing prayers," offered in quickly passing moments. This is true of all genuine prayer, of course, but intercessions offered with seemingly limited knowledge and few words may be ones through which He most mightily works. "The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day" as He answers "exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think" (Isaiah 2:11; Ephesians 3:20). The one who offers the prayer will be blessed in his praying, the one who receives God's answer will be blessed in His faithfulness, and together both will fall before our Heavenly Father to praise Him for the gift of prayer, and far more, the gift of answered prayer.
The Lord Jesus warned that "long prayers" can involve little more than the pretentious attempt to affirm ourselves and garner attention (Mark 12:40). Briefer intercessions, however, direct our attention and glory to the only One who sees into the hearts of people, wherein "the issues of life" truly exist (Proverbs 4:23). He alone knows the true needs of those for whom we pray. Simple and sincere requests that acknowledge and display our awareness of this truth may constitute some of our wisest and most effectual intercessions.
Certainly, long seasons of genuine prayer occur in our lives. We give thanks for them. However, "passing prayers," inspired and enabled by the Holy Spirit along the byways of life, accomplish much for the glory of God and the blessing of others. Let us expect that in this day, He will lead us accordingly, foreshadowing another day, in another time and another place, when some brother or sister may approach us on a glimmering street of gold. "I want to thank you for that prayer you prayed for me on August 22, 2023..."
"Pray without ceasing."
(I Thessalonians 5:17)
Weekly Memory Verse
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.
(Micah 7:18)
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