Weakened by illness, discouraged by the time it was taking to feel better, ‘John’ turned and asked, the minister to pray for him. The minister held his hand, they bowed and prayed together. Prayer seemed to help as a smile came to ‘John’s’ face, and he thanked the servant of God for coming by and helping.
   Serving as minister, one of dad’s regular stops each week was in the local hospital. Looking back I remember times when dad and I went together to visit the sick and ‘shut ins’. I remember times when I felt uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to say to someone dying of cancer, or someone who had just lost a loved one, but dad always knew what to do and what to say.
   Strange how just taking the time to go and sit with someone or offering to pray with them about their situation helps. Some feel prayer is a waste of time, but when dad and later when I offered to pray with and for someone, they never refused and always appreciated it.
   Does prayer help? Yes! Are people healed as a result of God answering prayers? Yes! I know this from what the Bible says, and from experience as well. Look at some Bible examples. In Joshua 10, where Israel, in the process of conquering the land of Canaan, which God had commanded and promised to them. The battle was taking longer than expected, and Joshua prays for the sun to stand still. It was an audacious prayer for sure, but God answered, and the sun ‘stood still’ for a day. Moses prayed for the defeat of Amalek, Exodus 17:8-13, Gideon prayed for reassurance from God, Judges 6:36-40, Samson prayed for strength, Judges 16:25-30, Elijah prayed for a boy to come back to life,  I Kings 17:19-23, Elijah prays for rain, I Kings 18:41-45; James 5:17-18, Hezekiah prayed for healing and more time to live, 2 Kings 20:1-7, Daniel prayed for safety while in the lions den, Daniel 6:10,16-22. There are so many instances in both the Old and New Testaments where prayers are made, and God responds. I have also ‘seen’ God work in my life in answer to prayer as well as in the lives of other Christians who are strong in prayer.
   Do you believe in miracles? Sure! If not, then why pray? If you are asking God to heal someone, of course He has ways this can be done, but I find no scriptures which say He no longer heals, quite to the contrary. The fact is that God works. We go to doctors, and they give us medicine or perform surgeries as needed and many times these things work, and God can and does work in this as well. There are also many cases where the best of doctors admit… they can only do so much, and they often encourage people to pray. Christian physicians often pray before they go into surgery. Why do all this if God is impotent?  Do I understand how prayer works? No! I just know God answers prayer.
   James says, “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray.” “Is any sick among you? Let him call the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed any sins, they shall be forgiven him” James 5:13-15.
   Would you please pray for me? I need it.