The Owl
But earnest prayer was going up to God from the Church for his (Peter's)
safety all the time he was in prison. Acts 12:5 Living Bible
What a ruckus! I was in the shower when it all began. The pounding of 24 canine
paws flying up the stairs and around the corner to the bathroom door and then
the barking began. I knew something really important was happening and I needed
to act quickly. Leaping from the shower I grabbed a towel, as I heard my
daughter's footsteps rush by the closed door and down the staircase. Moments
later the dogs and I were in hot pursuit.
What happened was this. In the early morning hours, long before the sun was yet
to rise on this cold winter's morn, an owl had swooped into our dog run and
grabbed one of our miniature long haired dachshunds. Fortunately the owl had
only made contact with one claw which meant it did not have the power to lift
off again with its prey. It was downed in our yard with Midge trapped underneath
it, giving us time to rescue her.
Since then our dog run has been fortified by fence extenders and a netting of
overhead rope providing safety from air attack for all the dogs.
Contemplating what happened to Midge that day, and how we were alerted to her
plight by the other dogs which in turn saved her, I found myself thinking of the
tremendous power that is unleashed when Christians pray. When the apostle Peter
was in jail awaiting execution the people of God stormed the gates of heaven
with their prayers; prayers which were answered as an angel of the Lord was
dispatched to lead Peter to freedom.
In James 5 we are admonished to call the elders of the church if we are sick, to
have them pray that we might be healed. We are to admit our faults to one
another and to pray for each other that we may be healed, for the earnest prayer
of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results. According to these
verses as well as many others, prayer=power. Prayer works.
Let us therefore remember during this Advent Season and every day, as God's holy
and chosen people to let the power of prayer work for us. Though we are
separated by times zones, miles and cultures, in Christ, in prayer, we are one.
We are one people, who in him, are able to boldly approach the throne of grace
on behalf of those who are caught in the clutches of oppression, war,
persecution, illness and all pervasive forms of evil. We are one body whose Head
has the power to raise the dead to life, to set the captives free, to heal the
broken hearted and turn their darkness into light. So let us remember to pray,
for prayer=power. Prayer works.
Prayer: Father God and Wonderful Lord and Saviour, we come before you, as one
people in Christ, this Advent Season to pray. We lift our voices in the unity of
prayer to plead for those who are injured and ill and for those caught by any
and all forms of evil, sin and oppression. Hear our prayers for them O Lord for
healing and salvation that your name may be glorified throughout the earth now
and forever more. In Christ's name we ask. Amen
Lynne Phipps
Atlin, BC lynnephipps@hotmail.com