So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. (Ezra 8:23)

 

AFTER HEARING THE ANNUAL REPORT, the mission board voted to close the Lone Star Mission in Africa. They based their decision on the fact that the mission had not produced one convert in the previous year. They determined they could not continue to provide funding for an unproductive unit.

That night, one of the board members, troubled by their decision, had difficulty sleeping. He rose from his bed and began to pray about the situation. He felt inspired to write, so taking pen in hand, he composed a poem with several verses and a resounding refrain: “Shine on, Lone Star, shine on.”

The next day, he asked permission to speak to the board. He told them of his experience the previous night. After reading the poem, he made a motion to rescind the action to close the mission and give it one more year. He recommended that the board and others pray regularly for the mission and ask God to bless its ministry.

A year later, the annual report showed that 1,111 persons had prayed to receive Christ through the ministry of the Lone Star Mission. Those souls might never have been saved if the board hadn’t reversed their decision and prayed, giving the mission another chance.

Maybe it’s actually true that prayer is the small muscle that moves the mighty hand of God. What are you praying about?

 

Pray, believing God will answer in his way and in his time.

 

Ron McClung lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife, Carol. He has written his weekly column, Positive Perspective, for more than thirty years.

 

© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.