Several times a week during this last year of pandemic, Mr. Jack pulls up his truck at my church office window. He steps out and comes over. If I’m working on something and didn’t notice his arrival, I hear a loud knock on the glass. Sometimes I see him approaching and move the blinds back before he knocks. Either way, he lifts up his hands in a prayer position and points at me, and then makes prayer hands again. He stops at my window and then drives to the front of the church entrance where he stops his truck and prays for our church.
Mr. Jack embodies the exhortation to “pray for one another” (James 5:16).
Sometimes I catch him two times per week. Other times it’s been nearly every day. Every time it’s the same: huge smile, praying hands, pointing at me, and then stopping to pray for the church at the main entrance. I can’t tell you how encouraging this is.
In 2 Kings 6, the servants of God find themselves in what looks like an impossible situation. The city is surrounded and defeat seems sure. In verse 17, Elisha prays, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
It’s only Monday. Yet so much has happened already. I’ve found myself praying, “Open my eyes, Lord!” Let me see the gifts and sweet mercies of Jesus. Let me see your gleaming strength and power.
God’s sweet grace came to me once again today, as Mr. Jack lifted up his hands in prayer, praying for me and praying for our church community, from outside my office window.
I invite you, dear beloved, to stop and pray:
Open my eyes, Lord.
Help me to see your grace and mercy around me today.
I lay down what is overwhelming and difficult,
focusing now on your strength and power.
Amen.
Menu
