As I read her letter, that she said she "just rattled off ... never expecting that it would be sent to others", I began to sob uncontrollably. Her prayer life had a tremendous impact on me. See if you can grasp what this jewel is embracing. She asked that I not mention her name. So, I didn't. But here is her letter.
Dear -----,
Sorry for the delay. I got home Monday night but I had so much mail to go through, bills to pay etc. etc. I just now feel back to normal.
When you retire from a very active life on the field, you feel as though you are not accomplishing anything meaningful and then after (my husband) went to be with the Lord, the day seemed very long. He was the prayer warrior of the family. He had thick folders of people's names that he prayed for. When he didn't have the strength to lift them, I would bring the folders to him so that he could pray for hundreds and hundreds of people. The Lord impressed upon me that I should take up the mantle and carry on his ministry and so each morning after breakfast I retire to my study and pray till almost noon. Because (my husband) had contact with many Mission Organizations I continued receiving their literature and prayer requests. I organized them all, numbered them by the days of the months or days of the week so that I could cover all the bases. When the requests come in on Oct. 15 for Mid-Missions prayer day, I print them off and pray for each request until the next Oct. 15. I pray daily for the candidates on deputation and I use the prayer request sheet that comes monthly from Mid-Missions. I follow the list of missionaries that work in Brazil and I also have a list of missionaries under A.B.W.E., Continental Baptist, Baptist World etc. I pray for the Hope Pregnancy Center here in our area, for the military chaplains, the President, the Supreme Court Justices, the Native American works, the Campus Bible Fellowships on many campuses and missionaries around the world many of whom send me their prayer letters.
I pray daily for my children, grandchildren and great grands, my siblings and their children. I don't want one of them to be lost because I didn't pray for them. Since I am a widow, I pray for each of our missionary widows that God will comfort them. I pray for my Pastor and Pastors of the churches that still support me or in whose churches we worked in. I pray for the ladies that I walk with in my mobile home park . I am remembering the carnival retreats that will be held this coming weekend that many will make decisions for the Lord. I pray for our Seminaries and all the young people that graduated that they will faithfully preach the Word. I can't get out and do a lot because my driving is very limited and my walking is poor but I can pray and so that is my ministry I look forward to my prayer time with the Lord each morning. Sometimes I don't know if the request was answered but other times I do hear that God blessed and intervened and so I am thrilled that I had a part in praying. At night when I can't sleep, I often pray for those that have special needs until sleep overtakes me again. It is wonderful that we can come into His presence day or night with big or little requests and know that His ear is open to my cry and how often He answers very insignificant requests like the drawer at the bottom of the stove that was stuck shut at (my daughter's) house, because the pots had shifted and nothing we did would enable us to open it. It wasn't anything major but added stress on the eve of our departure. I prayed and then tried one more time and God answered. Such a little request, but a big praise for such a faithful God.
I don't know if this is what you wanted, but this is what I do. I feel as though I am a part of so many works and that brings me such joy and satisfaction. I hope this helps.
Love and Prayers,
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