The Blessings Jar

Brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored.

2 THESSALONIANS 3:1

I’m the first to admit that my life is like a big jar overflowing with blessings. Like most Christians, when there’s a leak in the jar, I pray. The bigger the leak, the harder I pray, and if it’s a really big crack, I ask fellow believers to pray with me. Not long ago, when tragedy struck my family, I started the prayer chain with a favorite relative.

Several years earlier, Aunt Kate had been diagnosed with an incurable cancer. Though three rounds of chemo, two more of radiation, all while swallowing experimental drugs, did little more than make her bald and skinny, we lifted her in prayer. After months of suffering, Kate went in for a routine blood test…and the lab found no cancer. Shocked, her oncologist ordered more tests. “There’s no sign of cancer,” he admitted, “and I have no medical or scientific explanation for the cure.”

Who better to ask to join me in prayer than the woman who was the living, breathing, healthy recipient of a grace-filled, God-made miracle!

Imagine my surprise when she refused, citing 1 Timothy 2:5–6. “He is God,” she scolded, “and already knows about your petty problems…and will resolve them as He sees fit.” By the time we hung up, I could barely read the verse through my tears: “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

I’d read the passage many times, but my interpretation led me to believe that the Old Testament practice of sacrificing animals to earn an audience with God ended when Jesus died on the cross. His sacrifice allowed us to stand unashamed before the Father in praise and in prayer, for ourselves and on behalf of others. Had I misconstrued the meaning of that verse?

In a word, no!

All through the Bible, we find reference after reference, encouraging believers to pray in agreement about individual and community concerns. Asking others to join us in prayer is an act of humility that allows God to accomplish things we could never achieve as individuals. The apostle Paul understood this only too well and repeatedly asked people to pray for him.

The Almighty tells us to serve one another, and one of the best ways we can do that is to pray for them and with them.

By the grace of God, Aunt Kate is still cancer-free. And the petty problem I brought to her that day, years ago? I’m happy to report that it’s solved and (almost) forgotten!

“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”! Loree

Today’s Prayer

Thank You, Father. My eyes fill with tears each time I remember that the gift of Your grace is just that…a gift. I am humbled that through grace I am saved, reborn, given new life—here and in heaven—and all You ask in return is that I receive it by faith. O Lord, I do believe. I thank You for loving me, even when I’m unlovable. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me to live for You, now and forever, amen.