Thursday, October 30

By Linda Porter of Maryland Heights, Missouri, USA

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.

—1 Peter 3:12 NRSV

My daughter had a condition that caused her joints to pop out of place. This was painful and dangerous. When she had a job teaching at night in a town seven miles away, she had a terrible incident that needed long-distance prayers.

Jeni was going to her car and dropped her keys. As she bent to pick them up, her ribs dislocated and pressed against her lungs. She couldn’t breathe or move without pain. As she made it into her car, she knew she had to navigate home. She prayed all the way.

Because this was before cell phones, Jeni prayed alone. She knew she would not be able to turn her head or move without severe pain. She went in faith. As she approached intersections, the lights changed, and she could drive through. As she approached the busy highway, there was a break in traffic, and she could enter and drive without worry. As she exited the highway, she again had green lights all the way home.

Jeni crawled up the steps into the house and across the floor. She knelt at the sofa, where she struggled to breathe. Her grandmother found her there and called me and my husband. The people we were visiting stood and joined us in offering long-distance prayers. Our elderly aunt took Jeni’s hands and prayed. Jeni now had a good support group praying for her. She made a sudden small movement and heard her ribs pop back into alignment. She could breathe again.

As we rushed to her side, I thought how I had felt a power leaving our circle so far from Jeni and how those prayers joined with others. The x-rays later showed where Jeni’s ribs had bruised and nearly punctured her lungs. The doctor could not imagine how she could have done what she did with such injuries.

Jeni healed that night. She healed in God’s perfection and has had no more painful incidents of joint or bone distress. Today, she will tell you that God hears prayers of faith. And I know that even long-distance prayers are never too far away.

Prayer for Peace Compassionate God, you know our needs even before we utter them. You know our concern for our loved ones. You see us and know us more deeply than we know ourselves. Know that we pray to you in faith, trusting that you hear.

Spiritual Practice: Intercessory Reflection Sit quietly with your eyes closed as you enter intercessory reflection and prayer. Ask God to bring persons who need prayer to your mind and heart. Be open to images of the persons or spiritual insight into their needs. Listen for signals from their lives and let the depth of God’s love for them become powerful and real to you. Ask God to help you see ways to affirm and support them when you meet them in daily life.

Peace Covenant Today, God, as you hear my prayer, I will hear and respond to the needs of another.