A while back our family went to Warrior Sports in Springfield, MO to try the obstacles from the TV show “American Ninja Warrior.” I was so proud of little Dylan for making it up the warped wall like his big bro and Dad! He relentlessly tried to conquer that thing, and he finally made it to the top! I bought him a Warrior T-shirt as a reward, and you would have thought I handed him a ticket to Disney World!
That day we made lots of stops around Springfield, traveled back to Branson, watched a movie and ended up at Country Mart for some goodies. After a late night and busy day, we went home exhausted. In the morning Dylan was so pumped to wear his Warrior T-shirt…but we couldn’t find it anywhere! We tore up the house, car, garage, trash bins and laundry pile looking for it! Dylan was so sad, and honestly I was upset too. I thought he had it, and he thought I had it. Ugh. I just kept asking God to lead me to it.
After calling a few of the places where we had stopped the day before, I felt like it was a lost cause. I prayed, “I know this is a good learning lesson to be more careful, and I know I don’t deserve it, but God, will you please still help me find this shirt?”
So…I called the movie theatre and the only employee I know there, a nice man named Ben, answered the phone…totally not a coincidence! He didn’t find the shirt but he called me back shortly and said, “Did you happen to go to Country Mart last night?” I said, “yes,” and he replied, “I just remembered that I saw a shirt there in the parking lot last night!” Whoa!! So I drove over there and searched, asked the employees, and checked the lost and found…but no T-shirt. It was not looking good, but I prayed, “I believe You can still help me find it!”
As I walked to my car I saw a homeless man sitting at the edge of the parking lot. I felt the Lord prompt me to ask this man if he had seen it. “But Lord, if he has it, shouldn’t I just let him keep it?!” Plus, I had seen him around many times and I was nervous to talk to him. I had seen him yelling at some folks before. But the Lord was persistent, so I drove up near him and asked, “Excuse me sir, I lost a blue, Warrior T-shirt here last night. Have you happened to see it?” With great enthusiasm he held it up and said, “Yes! Here it is!”
Wow!!
For the next 30 minutes we had a fascinating conversation. He kept saying, “God bless you, mam.” He was so excited that he was able to help me! And God opened the door for me to bless him and help him. So here’s the deal: not only did God answer my “little” prayer of finding the T-shirt, but He also answered a “big” prayer through this whole experience. See, I had been praying to have more boldness, and this whole ordeal was an exercise in boldness for me…and it became a faith building blessing for sure!
The next Sunday as I worshipped at church, I began praying that God would heal people’s broken hearts. I asked Him, “Please use me to direct people to You. Help me encourage them to give their broken hearts to You, Lord.” He sent me 3 ladies who specifically had broken hearts. Wow! I didn’t seek them out, they came and found me. God blew me away by specifically answering my prayer!. Only He can do these things!
In Ezekiel 22:30 God says He is looking for people to “stand in the gap” on behalf of others. I used to think, “Well who am I to be used by God in ways like that?” But now I see that being just a normal person with all kinds of weaknesses and sin is all the more reason why God can use me! Because I can relate! I’ve been forgiven and made righteous by Jesus’ blood, and I know firsthand that He heals what is broken. We can count on this: “The prayer of a person living right with God is powerful and effective.” James 5:16.
I encourage you to be bold in your prayers…you never know who could use your kindness, encouragement and intercessory prayer today. The Bible says, “Come boldly to the throne of grace!” (Hebrews 4:16). God hears you, loves you and will lead you into unexpected blessings…all the while developing you…in the little and the big things! He is so AMAZING!