Isaiah 65:24 "Before they call, I will answer"
This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa ...
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in
Spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby
And a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the
Baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an
Incubator).
We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the
Equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student
Midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that
The baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came
Back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had
Burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last
Hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over
Spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying
Over burst water bottles They do not grow on trees, and there are no
Drugstores down forest pathways.
"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and
Sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job
Is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of
The orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters
Various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny
Baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough,
Mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if
It got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because
Her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual
Blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "send
Us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be
Dead, so please send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And
While You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl
So she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly
Say,"Amen". I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know
That He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't
There? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by
Sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four
Years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water
Bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I
Was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there
Was a car at my front door.
By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda,
Was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could
Not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.
Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded
The paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting.
Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.
From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes
Sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the
Leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box
Of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the
Weekend Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle.
I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He
Could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward,
Crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
Beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to
that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my
former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the
girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five month s before, in
answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that
afternoon."
"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24) This awesome prayer takes
less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you
have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but
do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no
cost but a lot of rewards.
Let's continue praying for one another Father, I ask you to bless my
friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit
at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.
Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through
them. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by
revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with
You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your
courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up
leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them
discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them
the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in
Jesus' name.
P.S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both.
Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ would
do.
"Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move
Your feet.
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