Day 19 - Draw the Circle - Memorial Offerings

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Theme: Our prayers don't die when we do. God answers them forever.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR? 
Someone prayed you to Me.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
By the time I was 15 or 16 I was in full-on rebellion mode, partying, swearing, running with the wrong people, listening to heavy metal and showing up everywhere I wasn't supposed to be.  I didn't care about much and I certainly wasn't thinking about the eternal status of my soul.  

One day, I was sitting around talking to friends when I made the comment, "I'll see you in hell", and laughing.  A few minutes later, a man in uniform (we lived on an air force base in the Philippines) showed up at our table and said SOMETHING about my comment.  I can't remember what it was exactly but I remember the impression it left: I needed to take the implication of what I said more seriously and most importantly, he cared that I didn't go there. Outwardly, I scoffed when he left. Inwardly, there was something in me deeply warmed that a stranger would take the time to care about MY soul, even when I didn't.

As I read today's devotional, God replayed that moment for me again.  I have often thought about it since coming to faith and everytime, I wish I could contact that compassionate stranger and tell him, "I made it!" The thing is, as often as I've thought about that spiritual marker I realize only today that he must have, either just before or after that moment of contact, prayed for me.  Long before I had words of my own, I was prayed into the kingdom. 

I will never know if that serviceman continued to think of me.  Did he pray throughout the next 19 years for my salvation?  Regardless, even if that day was the only day, it had eternal implications and reached far into the future, my future. God didn't hear that prayer and leave it void.  He put me on a path albeit the scenic route, back to Him, and a stranger helped to set my feet.

I pray that one day I get to do something like that for someone else, to pray them into the kingdom and ultimately reset the generations to follow. 

WHAT WILL YOU DO?
Look for opportunities to intercede.

NOW TALK TO GOD...
Father, wherever he is, I pray continued blessings for my serviceangel. Look out for him and keep him and all his family.  Thank You for that moment with him. I praise You for his obedience in approaching the unapproachable and with gratitude, I thank You that I now get to share the gospel myself. I pray that I get to have the same impact for someone else as he had for me. Oh my Lord, how that one moment has changed EVERYTHING.  THANK YOU. In Jesus' mighty name, amen.