Continue in Prayer
A letter from the Editor
Recently, SLM in Madison served as host to over 50 missionaries who took part in the ANAM Appalachian Regional Meeting. It was a wonderful time of refreshment and fellowship, as well as a time of nourishment.
As I put the finishing touches on my devotional in the early hours of the morning, as is often the case in my sermon preparation,
I was deeply moved at a particular phrase, the latter part of Phil. 1:17 which reads “. . . knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.”
Deeper study drew me to the specific, original term Paul used as he wrote “I am set,” more clearly understood as “I am put here.” I imagined Paul penning, from within the confines of his imprisonment, these words.
My mind raced through the other letters penned during his incarceration and I couldn’t help but wonder, had he not been incarcerated, “put” there for so many seasons, how much the church in particular would have missed from the writing these seasons of incarceration afforded him. And even though he knew he was “put” there by God, and was able to “rejoice” during those seasons, whether he could have ever imagined the power of his prayers, and the impact that the penning of those words would have on Christianity.
It was beyond comprehension in my mind, that anyone could have known what God was doing in what seemed like the worst of seasons, while such an amazing man of God sat confined in prison, and yet perhaps Paul’s greatest accomplishment occurred during the darkest of hours in confinement…his letters and his prayers.
Suddenly, another hero of the faith came to mind, and my eyes welled up with tears (as they do now as I recount it). My mind went to a man who has sat in his own prison these last few years, while his mind continues on, beyond what his body will allow as he ages. He, like few others could, became my biggest cheerleader and prayer warrior.
The chances of failure as a CEO in any field is high, but even higher when you have an evil enemy who doesn’t want the whole organization to succeed. So those who prayed for me and especially this man, who knew intimately how to pray, since he himself has sat behind the desk as CEO, have allowed me to endure some tough battles that were essential to fight and be led through by God. These prayers have allowed me and SLM to move forward into many new and exciting areas.
I felt led to share my thankfulness with this man, but when I made contact, discovered his health had deteriorated and that he hadn’t spoken for days, and was sleeping almost all the time. I asked the family if they thought he could hear me and understand when he did wake up, if they could call me, and they agreed. Just moments later I received a call…“Grandpa Dix is awake, you can talk to him now.” But as soon as my mom said that, my throat got tight, my eyes welled up, and I couldn’t even speak. I was silent for a few moments to regain my composure. Mom said, “Are you still there?” and then I asked God to let me say what was on my heart.
Through tears I spoke about the ANAM meetings and that I was given the opportunity to speak (Grandpa always loves to “talk shop”). I spoke about my message, about how Paul was “put” in prison and how that placement likely led to Paul’s greatest achievements. Then I shared with Grandpa that I believe it was his prayer and letters, during his unchosen confinement of age, from inside the prison of his aging body, that allowed what had the potential to be some of the hardest years of transition at SLM to be some of its greatest. That I believed he, Grandpa, was “put” where he was in confinement to pray for me and for SLM. I told him few people could have prayed for me in ways I would need them most, unless they understood this job. I thanked God for keeping Grandpa for these last few years so that he could pray me through this season and I thanked Grandpa for enduring this season, and that only God knows, but I wondered if it wasn’t just for my benefit.
Grandpa labored to respond and he tried a few times to say what was on his heart. But finally, just as we were about to hang up, he said “let me know how I can pray for you.”
Colossians 4:2 states “continue in prayer,” but literally the word προσκαρτερεῖτε means “devote yourself” to prayer.
Without a doubt, the “success” in ministry which Source of Light has had is directly related to those who have “devoted themselves” to pray for us. In this Reaper, in fact, every Reaper, we read stories of how God answered our prayers. Please take the time to read how God has answered your prayers and continue to watch with thanksgiving with us as we watch God work.
