The Unsuspecting Messenger
I have long been fascinated by the power of prayer, for I
have seen first-hand astonishing and awe-inspiring events
unfold all due to prayer. It was while I was researching a
book that I became part of an event regarding prayer and the
strange thing is I was not aware at the time that I would be
the messenger.
I had contacted close to two hundred people sending out a
call, which I hoped would continue to ripple out, for
stories relating to prayer. Therefore it was not a surprise
when a number of people began asking me to send up prayers
for them. It was something I did now and then for family and
friends so why not for acquaintances met through the
internet?
On one very hectic Wednesday while trying to deal with mail
that was reaching too far into the hundreds I received one
such letter from a cyber friend. She was requesting a
prayer. I was torn between trying to finish off my planned
work or stopping and fulfilling the request. I should
explain that when I pray for people especially those through
the internet, it is my habit to type out the prayer and then
send it to the person. In this way they can see that indeed
a special prayer has gone out for them and they can read
what I said to my Heavenly Father on their behalf.
I knew that it might take me at least fifteen to twenty
minutes to get a nice prayer composed and with my conscience
about doing service for others, pushing me, I got to work on
the prayer. When it was done I read it again and suddenly
felt this same prayer must go out to someone else. I knew I
should really be getting back on track yet another voice
within (my own thoughts, I reckoned!) kept on encouraging
me. Before I knew it I had used up every minute of my office
time sending out the prayer to a number of others. "Oh well,
" I thought," I'll get back to the job on Thursday".
On Thursday, I began opening mail and received some
astonishing letters. These were in response to “the prayer”.
One letter in particular shook me and left me crying. This
is her letter:
Ellie, Thank you. I have been sitting here in tears tonight
after reading your prayer for me. Why on earth would you
send me this prayer today of all days? Did you have a dream?
A feeling? How in God's creation could you have known how
much I needed this prayer today of all days? How could
anyone know, except God? How do you know that I am faltering
in my strength and needed this sign that I am not alone?
This sign that He has been listening to me, has heard me and
has shown me this through your prayer? Otherwise, how did
you know that while trying to walk the path I am really
stumbling along right now and wondering if I have the
courage to go on, despite the fact that I have an uncanny
ability to appear as if everything is fine... I am fine? I
am truly blessed and I am doubly blessed with your
friendship and your prayers. I too send you my loving energy
every day in my own way, in my own manner of " prayer." And
I thank God every day for delivering you into my life. Love
your friend (name withheld for privacy)
I sat and sobbed as I read her note. What if I had not
listened to the soft voice in my mind that encouraged me
first to forsake my regular work and compose the prayer and
then to actually send it out, to others, (though no further
requests had been made).
I did not know this particular friend needed a prayer. I do
not know why I didn't stick to my game plan and get my work
done. What I did, felt right! I didn't know I was receiving
a gentle nudge, but I am so very glad that I followed the
"feeling" and sent out more than the one prayer that day.
I realized I had been a messenger for God and the thought
was both humbling and elating. I bowed my head and said
"thank you dear Lord for using me" Whew! I truly love being
used to be this kind of messenger!"
Ellie Braun-Haley copyright 2004
shaley@telusplanet.net
Many of Ellie’s stories have been published in both on line
e-zines and pocketbooks. You can find oodles of beautiful
stories by Ellie in the 2TheHeart archives and in the new
2TheHeart book! (www.cafepress.com/2theheart)