That’s the last time I’m ever, ever going on a blind date, she vowed. I would rather end up an old maid with a cat than suffer through another disastrous dinner with a dud.
Olivia was livid as she walked out of the restaurant. She hailed a cab and quickly got in, anxious to put as much distance between her and her date. All the way home, she fumed, reliving every tortuous moment of the date. To say that it was a bad date was a gross understatement.
First of all, he was late and when he showed up, he was dressed as if he were if he were still lounging around in his apartment. No effort to look presentable. He was immature, kept calling her Olive and was more interested in his tablet than in her company. The conversation was strained because they had absolutely nothing in common. The only good thing was the restaurant. The food was good but she didn’t enjoy it because of him. She ended up paying for her own meal. And passed on dessert.
At one point, he got her so mad that she had to excuse herself and go to the washroom where she spent a few minutes, trying to calm down. It was then that she decided that she had had enough. She was going home. He could stay if he wanted. She didn’t care.
When she went back to the table, she announced that she was leaving. He seemed surprised, though she couldn’t understand why he should be. He was the worst date she had ever had the misfortune of having. She wouldn’t wish him on her worst enemy. She asked for the bill and paid her half and then she bid him goodnight and left. She didn’t shake hands or anything. She just left.
No more blind dates. She had her career to keep her busy for the moment. Being single was not such a bad thing. It was better than being stuck in a bad relationship or marriage. For now, she would put looking for love on hold.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need – Hebrews 4:16
The power of prayer is remarkable. We have a God whom we can go to and ask for grace, mercy and help for others or ourselves and He will be more than happy to help us. Jesus was always encouraging people to pray. He told the story of the persistent widow who wearied the unjust judge until he granted her request. Jesus made it clear that if an unjust judge could grant this woman her request, how much more wouldn’t our loving Father grant ours.
When Santinu, a young boy from a poor village was diagnosed with a brain tumor, it must have seemed hopeless to his family and neighbors. However, with God nothing is hopeless or impossible. Through the prayers of Santinu’s friend, Sagan and a group of children from the Bridge of Hope Center, God demonstrated His awesome power.
Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayermade in this place – 2 Chronicles 6:40
I watched this incredible video and saw how God moves mightily in what might seem like insurmountable situations.
My friends and I started praying together because I believe in Jesus and I believe He can heal – Sagan
I was moved by the persistent prayer of these children. They went every day to Santinu’s home to pray for him. Jesus instructed us to, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). These children didn’t pray once and thought that was enough. No, they prayed daily until God answered. Their faith and trust in Him and their persistence impacted not only the sick boy’s life but the lives of others who needed healing too.
As I watched Santinu writhing in pain, I knew that God would intervene because He can’t stand to see anyone suffering. It was His will to heal Santinu. When I saw Santinu giving his testimony of how prayer had healed him, I couldn’t believe that it was the same boy. He looked completely different. He was no longer in pain. He was no longer facing death. God had blessed him with a new life, future and hope.
Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place – 2 Chronicles 7:15
It is God’s will to do so much for us. All we have to do is ask. God could have healed Santinu on His own but He chose to involve the children. The children had seen the power of prayer in the lives of their teachers and as a result they followed their example. I thought it was great how God decided to show Sagan and his prayer group that He will answer their prayers too in a mighty way. Like their teachers, they got to see the power of prayer demonstrated in their own lives and in the life of Santinu. People came to know the God who heals through children.
Have you seen the power of prayer in action? My husband has! Just the other day, he prayed to God about the pain in his leg. The very day he prayed about it, God answered. He can get in and out of the car without experiencing any pain. Yesterday morning we spoke about it. I said that God is just waiting to give us what we need. All we have to do is ask.
God uses anyone to impact the lives of others. He used Sagan and a group of children to show His love and mercy to those who didn’t know Him. He used the meek. These children acted in faith and humility, trusting in the power of the God they had learned about from their teachers at the Bridge of Hope.
This video showed me that as parents, teachers, we are to be godly examples to our children, training them up in the way they are to go so that when they are older they will not depart but will in turn teach the next generations by their example.
I will share this video with my seven year old son. I want him to see that no matter how old or how young you are, God can use you to help others and that prayer is a very powerful tool. Through prayer, God can use you to change lives, work miracles, move mountains and do the impossible. It is important for children to know that as long as their prayers are from the heart, God will hear them and respond. Encourage them to pray every day.
If you are interested in learning more about the Bridge of Hope, visit this link.
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive – Matthew 21:22
