There once lived a man who was ill and so he asked his daughter
to call their church Pastor to come and pray with him.
When the Pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed, and there was an empty chair beside his bed.
The Pastor assumed that the chair was kept there for him since they were aware of his visit.
"I guess you were expecting me, the Pastor said.
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the man.
"Would you mind closing the door?"
The Pastor went and shut the door, then came back and sat by the bed side.
"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear you talk about prayer, but it went right over my head."I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, "Andy, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus".
When the Pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed, and there was an empty chair beside his bed.
The Pastor assumed that the chair was kept there for him since they were aware of his visit.
"I guess you were expecting me, the Pastor said.
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the man.
"Would you mind closing the door?"
The Pastor went and shut the door, then came back and sat by the bed side.
"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear you talk about prayer, but it went right over my head."I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, "Andy, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus".
Here is what he
suggested. Sit down in a chair, place an
empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the other chair.
It may look spooky and very weird when anyone sees you talking to an empty chair but remember Jesus promised to be with you always'.
"Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now." "So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.
I'm careful though, because If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the psychiatric home."
The Pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey of his new found faith.
Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the Pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon.
Did he die in peace?" he asked. Yes, when I was about to leave the house, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the market an hour later, I found him dead.
But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that, Sir?"
The Pastor wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."
Prayer is one of the best free gift we have received. Lets cultivate the habit of praying. Most times, we spend more time mumbling and complaining rather than taking it to the problem solver in prayer.
It may look spooky and very weird when anyone sees you talking to an empty chair but remember Jesus promised to be with you always'.
"Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now." "So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.
I'm careful though, because If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the psychiatric home."
The Pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey of his new found faith.
Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the Pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon.
Did he die in peace?" he asked. Yes, when I was about to leave the house, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the market an hour later, I found him dead.
But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that, Sir?"
The Pastor wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."
Prayer is one of the best free gift we have received. Lets cultivate the habit of praying. Most times, we spend more time mumbling and complaining rather than taking it to the problem solver in prayer.
This Friday morning, it is my prayer that you come to realize
how effective prayer can change your life situations. Do have a blessed weekend
and don't forget to PRAY!!!
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