At 9 a.m. one weekend day, a businessman walked into a small local restaurant for breakfast. Exhausted after another sleepless night, the businessman sat down at the counter and let out a long, sighing breath, as a ton of worry occupied his thinking.
Drinking a cup of coffee, negativity centered all around him; and he thought to himself, ‘I just don’t know if I have much of a future any longer.’ A dark cloud seemed to be following him, for he experienced one difficulty after another. Replaying in his mind the regrets and mistakes of the past, the businessman pondered hopelessly, ‘I seem to have no purpose left at all.’
Light spilled through the window in the restaurant. Out of the corner of his eye, the businessman noticed at one of the side tables there was a mother, father and their young daughter. Making casual conversation, the waitress had just served the family plates of warm pancakes.
Then, the little girl set down her glass of milk. She lifted her sweet voice and said to her parents, ‘Let’s say our prayers.’
The waitress overheard and broke out in a big, blissful smile and asked, ‘Will you say the prayer for all of us here in the restaurant?’ Agreeing, the young girl replied, ‘Yes, I will.’
Beaming, the girl looked across the room. Moments later, she uttered out loud, ‘Please, bow your heads.’
The people in the restaurant mostly stared at each other. And next, one by one, their heads went down.
Surprisingly, the businessman’s face began to soften as he bowed his head to pray. Within seconds, a sense of peace came over him as he called upon God.
Then, the little girl folded her hands, bowed her head and prayed, ‘God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food,’ followed by, ‘Amen.’
Something beautiful passed between person to person. And the businessman quickly realized that his situation was not as hopeless as it once appeared to be. He looked at things differently. With a broader focus and a better frame of mind, he contemplated, ‘Prayer has changed me, and now I am able to change my situation.’
For that child’s simple prayer totally changed the atmosphere in the entire room. And prayer can transform your circumstances.
Do you currently have a need in your life? Is there something for which you desire help?
Scripture reminds us that the moment we pray, the tide of the battle we are facing begins to shift. Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything.
If we turn back to Old Testament times, there is no lack of instances of prayer miracles.
Daniel prayed while he was in the lion’s den. The mouths of lions were shut, and he was not harmed. (Daniel 6:22).
Esther prayed for God’s help and mercy, and a nation was delivered. (Esther 9:31).
Hezekiah prayed, and his life was extended. (2 Kings 20).
Today, no matter what your situation looks like, pray. Don’t be gripped by fear. Rather, look up to God and say, ‘I trust you to supply all my needs.’ Remember, God is with you. He is for you and has a way of making things right. Have faith. With God, nothing is out of reach. And He is able to successfully deliver you from anything you’re going through.
Scripture tells us: ‘Whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.’ (1 John 3:22).
‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’ (Philippians 4:6-7).
‘If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.’ (John 15:7).
There is more to your life than what you are experiencing now. Your best days are not over. Wonderful blessings are to come. So humbly ask and believe that God has the ability to answer your sincere prayers. For God is going to bless you more than you’ve been blessed before.
In the first Book of Samuel, I read how a woman named Hannah ardently desired to have a child. Thus, she took her petition to God. Hannah didn’t pray once or twice and just drop the matter. She drew near to God in prayer and didn’t quit in her quest. Others mocked, ridiculed and taunted Hannah because she was childless. However, this humble woman didn’t fall prey to negative thinking. She persistently kept pouring out her heart in prayer. Hannah promised God that if she had a son, she would give him back for God’s service. And she had great faith that God had the power to alter her condition and to help her bring forth a child.
In the course of time, God did answer Hannah’s prayers with a son whom she named, Samuel. ‘For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to Him.’ (1 Samuel 1:27). Moreover, she was abundantly fruitful in her life, as God blessed Hannah with three more sons and two daughters. (1 Samuel 1:17).
As with Hannah, there is going to be an end to your difficulty. Suddenly, your situation will get better. Suddenly, you’ll receive your miracle. Suddenly, a dream will come true. Soon, blessings will be released in new, exciting and extraordinary ways. And … it could happen this week.
David said in the Bible, ‘Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.’ (Psalm 23:6). Today, that is what I am declaring over your life: Goodness and mercy will always follow you.
Therefore, go before God boldly in prayer. Thank Him daily. Then prepare to receive the answer. For God is going to bless you more than you’ve been blessed before. And this is going to be your best year yet!
Email Galasso-Vigorito at cgv@anewyouworldwide.com
