| “Two years ago, I fell into a slump in my prayers. I was not praying as much. But I studied about prayer, and learned, even from the experiences of the brethren. I was crying, "O Lord, I don't know what is happening to me. I really want to set it right." I began to pay attention to calls for help, needs, finding jobs. I prayed "O Lord, I want to help people in their livelihood. But I have nothing to give them. All of that will come from You."
“Then the treasurer of the compound where I live asked "Reggie, I thought you said you knew some people who could work?" I had told her that if they needed manpower, there were people I could refer.
“At last I could be of help to someone! They needed a gardener, so I passed on one resume a gentleman in the fellowship had given me. Right there, the treasurer said "Okay! When can he start? I can see here he has so many skills, and being senior, could make some good changes around here." So I contacted that man, and he was able to start work right away.
“I kept on the lookout for more opportunities. All the time praying for direction and provision, acknowledging that I did not have the strength of my own to do this. "O Lord. Show me how." Later, the treasurer said they needed security personnel. Wow. I contacted another person in the fellowship whom I knew needed better work, and once again, he brought his papers, and was able to start the next day. I was so happy!
“Recently, just this Tuesday past, I was in pain all over my body, I couldn't bear it, because of my illness. I rang a lady I often seek counsel from and she asked if I wanted to be anointed by an elder. Even over the phone, as I was being anointed, I cried out to God, "I know I have many sins O Lord. But please, I'm asking you to heal me, if it's Your will." Then right after that, the pain just left! It was as if I had just imagined it! After that, of course, I had to treat the broken cyst, but the whole body pain was gone. I started drinking glasses of fresh fruit and vegetable juice to drain the toxins. "O Lord, I know I have many shortcomings when it comes to the right diet, I can't do it on my own, or promise to do, but I would like to try."
“Even things like once, when it rained hard suddenly, and most of us in the jeep had no umbrella "O Lord, please, make the rain stop when its time for all of us to alight. I know You could do that, O Lord." And sure enough, when we alighted, the rain stopped! The moment I stepped in the door, the rain poured!
“Also, sometimes, there are things I feel which I fear that I'm the only one going through. So I pray that there would be someone I could talk to who could understand the way I feel, and indeed, when Sabbath comes, I talk to someone, and it turns out she is going through the same thing!
Then, recently, I had an uncle visiting from Canada. One day, rushing out to go to work, I found him hunched at the bottom of the stairs. "I don't feel well," he said. I put down everything, and saw that his lips were starting to go pale. "Look," I said, "There is something I know will help most. Let's pray, for healing ha?" "Yes, okay," he said. So we sat right there on the steps and I prayed for him. "O Lord, this can be a time to show these people who ask if your miracles are true. I believe in You. I know that one word from You, one touch from You, and my uncle will be healed." In Tagalog and English. "I know, that YOU ALONE can heal." Afterwards, I looked at him. There was color in his lips. He said "I feel better...much lighter... I don't feel dizzy anymore" I didn't know what to do the first time because he had a slipped disc. Later, he said, "You know, this was the same kind of attack I had in Canada, when I had to be confined to the ICU...Prayer is really powerful, huh?" he said. "Ah, I believe in that 101%. But you've got to have faith." –Maria Regina Buendia |
