They Prayed

He said something along these lines: "I have told everyone about [. . .] but I know they are not praying for me."

It was not an excuse, but rather a picture of what Christianity is these days. We are human. We fail. Sometimes intentionally. But sadly, we are often found in these situations either with a partner in sin or a complete lack of friends who dare to reach into the darkness.

And having been there before, knowing in hindsight that she laboured over me in prayer, I was glad. Thankful for those times God intervened on account of her intercession. I do not know what the occasions were. I do not know to what extent prayer affects happenings (Would God still intervene sans intercession?). But I do know that I was surrounded by prayer and I am confident it changed things.

Back to the present-how would it have been different if people were praying? How blessed am I to have those friends, who will not take my excuses, who direct my gaze toward the heavenly places, who shower me in scripture, and above all, who pray.

And so I remember I should be the one who dares to be different. The one who loves him not with affection, or with praise or gifts, but by offering him up to his father.