It was six years ago when I had the intense urge to call an elderly couple who lived in San Diego. Their names were Ellie and Rob. Ellie was this very loving, prayer warrior from Life Church in San Diego, and her husband, Rob, had been a church usher for years. Lately, however, Rob had not been doing well. During his illness, Ellie and I had kept in touch, praying together as he slowly slipped away.

We claimed the promise of Matthew 18:19-20: "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (NIV), and prayer had kept Rob around for much longer than expected. He had a bum heart, he had undergone open heart surgery, he had COPD and heaven knows what else. He barely ate, and poor Ellie, at her age, did everything for him without any help or respite.

The evening of August 23, I felt so listless everytime I thought of Ellie. I picked up the phone and dialed her number. She answered the phone with, "Amen, Candy." Before I could even speak, she said: "Lord have mercy,"

I didn't ask why. I knew in my heart Rob was fading away, and I wasn't overly surprised at her whispered words: "Rob is not breathing." She said that she had her hands on his chest, and she asked me over the phone to keep on praying.

Loudly and between sobs, I complied: "Heavenly Father extend Your healing, Your mercy and Your peace to Rob Brown. You gave him the breath of life. Sustain him and bring him comfort. Be with him and Ellie as they take refuge in You. You are the God of all comfort (See 2 Cor.1:3). We believe in you. We trust you. Hear us now as we pray. Wrap him now with Your love and Your peace. We praise You and we thank You. Amen."

And so we continued to pray for a good half-hour, until we heard the siren of the ambulance. Exhausted, Ellie looked at Rob then. She watched as he took one big breath and his eyes flew open, Ellie excitedly squealed over the phone. She said that he even managed a smile. The EMTs arrived puzzled, commenting to Ellie that there was nothing else for them to do as his vitals were normal and he was sitting up. They told her she had done a good job and that there was no need to take him to the hospital.

"God is good," she answered ". "All glory to His name."

The next couple of days Rob was cheerful, he walked around, ate heartily and joked around with Ellie like he used to. He made her very happy. Then three days later he passed peacefully in his sleep, a happy man with a happy wife who appreciated the value of faith and prayer. Praise God.

Love in Jesus

Candy Araneta
Prayer Warrior, Answers2Prayer Ministries