The Unseen Hand by A.J. Simms  Ever wonder, “How in the world did I ever make it through the day, moment or event?” When you knew you could go absolutely no further, somehow you persevered! It wasn’t by any chance of your own, you know! It was the power of the Unseen Hand! I’ve been holding on to this picture thinking that it would come in handy. At first, I thought it was a little cheesy because it’s not really my style of “art.” Yeah, yeah…it’s a mountain and the little person is on a journey and the hand of the Savior is holding him! Sad to say, this message seems to have become “old” news for me as I have heard and experienced it much. But somehow, this week, its message has been refreshed, revived and awakened in my spirit. Not only is it the hand of God sustaining us (and that’s really all we need), but also have you stopped to think about the prayers of your friends or family that have helped carry you…when it wasn’t a crisis moment? I have had many people in my life that have prayed for me, but only a handful of them have actually taken a true interest of the events in my days and diligently prayed for me without my personal plea for prayer. What a blessing! During my ministry with Kid’s Jamboree (long ago), a faithful older lady in my church made it her business and duty to lift me regularly. I knew I could count on her devotion and dedication to pray for me everyday! And she did! I felt the prayers…it was as if an unseen hand was guiding and carrying me as I worked hard ministering deep into the hours of the night, throughout the day, while overseas, and here at home. She was the least likely person that I would have imagined to make that sacrifice for me! I was blessed, indeed! When she was struck with cancer and quickly passed away, I remember the sorrow I felt. Could I make it without her prayers? What would I do? Would I ever hear the words again, "I'm praying for you" from someone who really took that to heart and was faithful to do so? God had removed the one special person that I counted on! He reminded me that I was not alone and that He was ever present, always interceding for me. “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25  Over the past several years, another friend had stepped up to the same task of praying for me…diligently! As I spoke with her almost everyday, her final words of our conversation, whether on the phone or during a visit were, “I’m praying for ya!” I knew I could count on her to bathe my day in prayer. She was the one I called on to pray over difficult decisions, silly issues that were important to me, my health, the relationships I had with my other friends, and vast other categories. She has prayed for many of you reading this blog! She took prayer seriously and she knew how much I depended on it, for she did too in her life! She was my prayer buddy! It’s been a little over a month now since my faithful prayer partner, Sherlene, went to be with Jesus. Again, I’m left thinking, “How am I gonna make it without her prayers?” God sweetly nudges me to reflect again on His intercession to the Father on my behalf. Romans 8:26 –“ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” I still have special people in my life that pray for me (I'm so thankful for them), and this week I was reminded that it is the Holy Spirit that lays people on our heart to lift up! I’m one who is easily on the giving end of that, but it’s rare that I think about the Lord laying me on the heart of someone else. There have been rare times that I have gotten 2 or 3 phone calls in a single day of friends calling just to say, “Hey, I’ve had you on my heart. I wanted you to know that I’m praying for you.” But, it has happened and it happened again this week. Someone that I would have never of thought of, informed me that she was praying for me. I'm Humbled…. Then later that day, I got a text from someone else, “Praying for you! What's going on I haven't seen you lately?” Again totally humbled and in awe that God cares so much for me that not only was HE praying for me, but that he had others praying for me as well! What an awesome thought! Someone was surely fulfilling Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
“How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.“ Matthew 7:14 I don’t know about you, but I know that I cannot go through this life without prayer. Isn’t it good to know that when Jesus was resurrected, He not only lives to conquer sin and death and save us, but “He ever lives to make intercession…” Hebrews 7: 25! Don’t forget to pray for others! Jesus commands it. The prayers spoken on my behalf have blessed me abundantly and I have seen the hand of God at work in my life because friends and family were diligent to pray for me and to lift up my request. Praying for others often requires you to make sacrifices. Those sacrifices may take the form of spending extra time, praying aloud, being depleted, or even years of praying the same prayer. “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:15,16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16 The other day, the Air Suspension motor on my car began to go out! It made my ride very rough and bumpy! My thought, “Oooo, if only I had a hand underneath to lift my suspension and help me ride smoothly, it wouldn’t feel so awful.” Then, (in my object lesson brain) I quickly related it to prayer and thought how it might feel if no one ever prayed for me! A really rough and bumpy journey of life. It's definitely not how I want to go through life! Too bumpy and rough! Immediately, I remembered the cheesy art and thanked the Lord that there IS an unseen hand guiding my life, and there are unheard prayers (for me) too! I am so thankful. Prayer is powerful. It has the power to change things. Don't just pray to be praying! Pray with expectation! Expect that mighty results will happen if prayed in line with the Father's will. "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13 If God is laying someone on your heart, pray for them. Don’t just stop there, either! Let them know. It might be just the “pick me up” or “faith encouragement” that they need. I am happy to know that people are thinking of me and even happier to know that they took time to think, sacrifice, AND pray! (A special thank you to Kathy, my prayer partner, and many others of you who go to the Father on my behalf!) "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thess. 5: 11-18 In those moments when there are things that I cannot share or cannot find the words to express, or perhaps don't want to burden down my prayer buddies with another request, I lean harder on Jesus. I am also thankful that He is praying for me...and He has ALL the time in the world!  This song has been a part of my spiritual growth (many years ago!) Throughout the blog you have read some of the words to the song (written in purple). I pray it blesses you as it has me these many, many years. The music is a little old but the message makes it worth listening to! Ever Praying, too! Sherry  If you would like to receive the "Monday Musings" RESTORE blog each week via email, please sign up and enter your email address in the upper right hand corner.
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