Battle Ready #5 of 5 Christ, A Prayer from the Heart, June 14
Written by Thomas Sherrod
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV).
The day did not go as I had hoped. A young student at the adolescent mental health unit where I worked had violently threatened several staff members and myself. Throughout the day he refused several overtures for conversation from staff members. He eventually initiated an incident and had to be restrained. How unfortunate! However, as I reflect on this encounter some 45 years later, I see a slightly different picture. He remains the only student whose full name I remember. I have prayed for him periodically over the years and wondered what became of him. He would be in his early sixties now. I will continue to persevere in prayer for him. On a positive note, I do not recall him having any more severe outbursts the remainder of my time working there. Maybe we made a difference in his life. However, I was glad I was prepared for a possible confrontation. If we had not taken his threat seriously, he may have done harm to a staff member or himself. I do not demonize him, for he fought with his own demons. As Christians, Paul instructs us to always be ready, knowing what we are up against in this world.
We are told in Ephesians to put on the armor of God. In today’s verse we see that the last piece we are given is the gift of prayer. Prayer is a gift offering us the privilege of listening to and talking with our Creator. How wonderful and amazing! We are to persevere in prayer. The psalmist cries out, “How long, Lord, how long?” (Psalm 6:3) Of course, we get weary and may feel like quitting. God knows our every weakness and will be our rock and fortress through it all. These words of Paul can become our battle cry: “Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV).
Cancer can drain your physical, emotional, and spiritual resources. You may feel depleted, just glad to get out of bed and get dressed. You are not alone. A prayer from the heart is always heard. “Help me, Lord” or “Lord, have mercy” are beautiful prayers touching the heart of God. Cancer cannot separate you from God’s loving Spirit. As with the young man mentioned above, things do not always turn out as we plan or hope. Yet God’s Spirit within us enables us to persevere, knowing in whom we believe. His mercies are fresh every morning. Indeed, God is able!
Pray: Lord, thank You for the gift of prayer. Help me to persevere regardless of the circumstances. Help me to trust that You are working out Your plan in my life. Thank You for allowing me to pour out my heart to You. Amen.
Your Turn: Imagine God pouring out His Holy Spirit into your heart as a gift of love (see Romans 5:5).
Thomas W. Sherrod, Cancer Survivor
Tom is a retired hospital chaplain who works part time for Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health System in North Carolina. He organized and facilitated a cancer support group for twenty years as part of his hospital ministry. He is married for forty-four years and enjoys his three daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. He is a recent survivor of prostate cancer and is immensely thankful for all of God's grace and provisions through it all.
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
To learn more about our ministry and the services we provide visit our website by clicking here.
