“You have no more than six months to live.”  Those words were spoken by a doctor to my pastor, Herb Hudson.  I had worked with Pastor Herb for several years as his assistant and youth pastor.  We were very close.            Many readers have experienced similar situations.  The emotions are devastating.  Your reactions can vary from denial, to shock, to overwhelming fear.  For many of us, prayer is our immediate response.

            We prayed.  Our church family prayed.  Many fellow believers around the country who knew Pastor Herb prayed.  The cancer had started in his kidney but later spread to his liver.  It was the cancerous spot on the liver that caused the doctor to issue his final diagnosis.

            Many local churches in the Grove area are beginning a joint preaching project this week called Magnificent Obsession; Getting Real With God.  It’s an unprecedented adventure for us as pastors.  For nine weeks we will all be preaching the same series of messages.  We believe the end result will be an increased level of unity and Christian brotherhood among believers in our area.

            The first week’s topic is prayer.  As I think about prayer I think about the numerous things we Christians pray about.  We pray for our children, our leaders, our friends and even our enemies.  We pray for guidance, forgiveness, healing, faith and love.          Sometimes, we see miraculous answers to the prayers.  After Pastor Herb received the terminal diagnosis, his condition deteriorated pretty quickly.  He was delirious for several days.  In the midst of that time, I was praying and the Holy Spirit directed me to Psalm 91.  The last few verses speak of long life for those who put their trust in the Lord. 

            It was such a strong impression from God that I immediately got in my car and drove to the hospital.  I went into the room and began reading the Psalm and claiming the promise for him.  He was not coherent enough to even know I was there, but God was there.

            A few weeks later, Pastor Herb was feeling better.  He left the hospital with instructions to return in six months for a check-up though there was an unspoken feeling that he would not live that long.  He did return for the appointment as scheduled.  The appropriate tests were done to scan for cancerous “hot spots” in his body.  There were none.

            He was asked to return again in six months and the results were the same.  After two years, he was pronounced cancer free.  That miracle occurred in 1987.  Today Herb is no longer a pastor but is retired and doing quite well for a man now in his late 70s.

            Those of us who pray and believe the promises of God have seen many answers to our prayers.  But we’ve also had prayers unanswered.  I could tell other similar stories of praying for healing that ended in a funeral.  I don’t understand that.  I don’t believe anyone can fully understand the mind and will of God.

            I do know there is great power in prayer.  My personal faith is such that I never pray a prayer that I don’t believe God will answer.  That doesn’t mean He answers every prayer that I pray, but many, many times I’ve seen God’s Spirit respond to my petitions.

            We are Christians.  We pray.  Let’s do it more.