The Importance of Prayer

Grace Moment By Moment-weekly column
"The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much"
(James 5:16 NKJV).

"Where Were You When the Olympic Park Bombing Occured?"

The question from my friend startled me. When I agreed to do the interview I had no idea what to expect. I knew she wanted to ask me some questions about my time in South Carolina. Well, that certainly took place then. We were sitting in my house, sipping tea when the subject came up. Reflecting on that event, I smiled. It was one of my favorite memories of Mom. The day I learned how important taking time to pray could be. . .
I remember it as a warm summer day in Sumter, South Carolina. Sunny golden light danced across the carpeted living room and onto the kitchen table as we prepared to start the day. At 7:45 a.m. I checked Mom's blood sugar-140. So I prepared an insulin syringe and gave her, her morning shot while the griddle warmed. A few minutes later, I served our breakfast of hot blueberry pancakes and sizzling sausage with orange juice and coffee. By 8:30 we had eaten and I had washed the breakfast dishes.
As I put the dishes away I asked Mom, "What do you want to do today?"
I knew what the answer would be. It's what we did every Saturday.
"Let's start with baking cinnnamon rolls,then maybe, some chocolate chip cookies or pies later." Mom replied her eyes lit with a smile, "You know how Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary love them."
Yeah, I know." I laughed. "It seems we can't keep them around long enough to satisfy their sweet tooth."
"Or mine." Mom added with a laugh.
As I began setting out the pans and utensils, I reflected on our routine. Every Saturday morning, as we listened to the Christian radio serial programs, Mom and I baked sugar free baked goods. I did most of the physical work since Mom had suffered a stroke a few years before. But it in no way diminished her joy of baking or the time we shared together. As I set the final ingredient on the table, Mom's mood changed.
"Honey, we need to keep praying. That ominous sense of trouble I mentioned a few weeks ago is stronger than ever today. I don't know what it means. . . I hope nothing bad is going to happen but we just need to keep praying."
"Okay, Mom." I had felt the same troubling sense of unease for a couple of weeks now. I knew from Mom's teaching, and from my own experience, never argue with God when He impresses a need for His people to pray.
About an hour later, we were halfway through the second batch of cinnamon rolls, with the first one in the oven baking. Suddenly I had to go to the bathroom.
"Mom I'll be right back." I yelled as I ran down the hallway. The hall clock read 9:00 a.m. Mom's favorite radio program Ranger Bill was on. In the bathroom the words, "Prayer is the essence of our walk with Jesus. It is the pipeline through which He hears us." floated through my mind. Outside the thermometer read 92 degrees and even though I wore a tank top and shorts, I shivered.
Suddenly I heard Mom scream, "AH-H-H No! No!"
Startled, I ran from the bathroom, calling, "Mom? Mom, what is wrong?"
No answer came except . . . sobbing.
When I reached the kitchen Mom clutched her chest, her face the color of chalk. "Mom, Mom what is it? Are you having chest pains?" I asked as I crouched next to her.
Shaking, she hoarsely voiced, "No-o, the . . . the radio."
Nothing about this made sense because when I turned towards the radio I could hear Ranger Bill still on. Just then the morning radio host broke in to make an announcement.
"Folks, it has just been confirmed, A bombing occurred at the Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia during the wee hours this morning. There are unconfirmed reports as to the number of fatalities and injuries. The investigation is still ongoing. We will continue to break in with details as needed. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming."
Shocked, I collapsed into a nearby chair. Moments passed as Mom calmed herself. Then her eyes locked with mine. I reached for her and she clasped my hand as we bowed our heads in prayer. The smell of warm, buttery cinnamon wafted from the oven and lingered in the air around us. Foremost in our minds were the thoughts of the families and victims in Atlanta. I'll never forget the words we prayed in unison.
"Lord, we come to you with heavy hearts today. People are suffering in Atlanta and elsewhere. Please, Father. Let Your Will be done, not ours, but Yours. Comfort and sustain those who are hurting right now. Thank you that You can always call on us to pray, in Jesus' name, Amen."
As I took a sip of tea, my friend said, "Wow! That is sure some story."
I smiled, then replied, "Yeah, it is. Today, we face similar situations all over the world, and it is more important than ever that people always, always take time to pray."