THE PRAYER THAT IS ALWAYS ANSWERED

 

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

 

THE PRAYER THAT IS ALWAYS ANSWERED

 

Acts 21:11-14

11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

 

          Jan Karon is the best-selling author of the Mitford novels, also called the Father Tim novels. There are about 23 of them and I have read most, if not all of them.

 

          Father Tim is an Anglican [Episcopal] priest. Fortunately for him, Anglicans are permitted to marry beauties like Cynthia, his next-door neighbor. Throughout all of Tim’s adventures he invokes what he calls “the prayer that is always answered.” This, of course, is “Lord, let your will be done.”

 

          Last night I stayed up watching election results until the news anchors’ makeup melted. Finally, somewhere near two o’clock in the morning, we had a winner. This morning, we are praying Father Tim’s sure-fire prayer. The will of the Lord be done.

 

Eph 5:15-17

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

 

Lord, because our ability to discern what is right is broken, please let your will be done. It is both a sane and safe prayer. AMEN