CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Either you believe in the power of prayer or you believe in coincidence.
Earlier this week when I woke up to come into work, there was an ambulance across the street. My neighbor, a man in his 80s who lives alone, was being taken to the hospital in the middle of the night. I was certain he’d had a heart attack – a devistating health problem for someone who has no immediate immediate family and values his independence. In one night, I thought his life had changed completely.
Before driving off to work, I prayed for him by name. “Please God, be with him tonight. Keep him close to you. May he receive expert medical care. May he be healed according to your will.”
That afternoon, he’d been discharged from the hospital and was back home. It wasn’t a heart attack. It was a much more treatable medical condition.
So… is it the power of prayer? Or coincidence? Perhaps.
The bible tells us to pray boldly. God had gifts for us that we might never receive because we don’t ask for them. I can think of two other occasions where I prayed for people in my life with health problems. They also had positive outcomes. Coincidence? The problem with believing in coincidence is this: the more it happens, the less convincing coincidence is. The more likely it seems is that God hears me, and, in His time, He intercedes.
So, why not pray to win the lottery or to have incredible wealth? The Bible speaks to that. God knows that I may be self destructive if I had unlimited amounts of money. Oh, certainly I would support the causes that are important to me. But I could also fuel very indulgence and bad habit that I have. Too much money might actually harm me. The Bible also speaks to this: “If your children asked for bread, who would give them a stone?”
God is the giver of good gifts. Ask him. You’ll be amazed at what happens.
Each week I set aside some time to ask you to support the Gospel TLC. It’s a faith-based transitional living center in Weston for men who are turning away from addiction and are working to change their lives. They need monthly donors. If you’d like to help, there’s a link here:
The men at the Gospel TLC also cook their own meals. They need things like breakfast foods, eggs and milk. Those items can be dropped off as the Gospel TLC building at Crosse Point Boulevard, near the hospital in Weston.
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