Prayer Changes Everything
18 years ago, I had a conversation that would change my life, as well as my family’s life, forever. At the time, I was a married mom of three boys. I had recently started reading the bible and growing in my relationship with Christ. One Saturday morning I was invited to a “prayer breakfast” at a friend’s house. I had no idea what I was in for. After a little food and a lot of visiting, we were asked to find a partner to pray with. I had never prayed out loud before and I wanted to head for the door. Too late, a woman I had never met asked me to pray with her. I reluctantly agreed. As we sat down, I told her as politely as I could, “I do not really pray out loud. I mean, I was not raised that way.” This woman looked me right in the eyes and said, “Do you want your children to say that?” Wow! That was direct. She went on to challenge me to start praying with my youngest son, “he is just a baby, he won’t judge you.” So, I did.
Within a few days, I started gathering my boys together at bedtime to pray. It was not long before they started asking me if it was time for prayers. They loved growing in their relationship with God, and they loved the time connecting as a family at the end of the day.
Fourteen years later, I got an opportunity to reconnect with women that challenged me. I was able to share with her that because of her willingness to be bold and allow God to use her, our lives were changed. I now not only pray out loud, I have the privilege of praying with and for people that God places in my life. My boys love the Lord. My oldest is now teaching his children about Jesus. The other two have served in church and are living their lives following God. My youngest, the baby she told me to pray over, he spent 6 months serving God doing International missions. Had it not been for a chance meeting and a bold statement, they might have missed it.
All that God ask is that we are available. If the Holy Spirit is nudging you to speak, do not hesitate, you never know the impact you could make.
It is never too late to make a new choice to live the life that God has for you. You are never too young or too old to be used by God.