Each week on Thursday, I attend a faculty book-talk, a discussion while seated at a long rectangular table surrounded by colleagues.  Earlier this fall, we read a non-fiction text focused on integration of faith within the classroom, and now we are reading a book titled Write Like You Teach.  It’s easy to join these groups but rather difficult to find sufficient time to read the chapters, to prepare for the weekly discussions.  Nevertheless, I continue because of the lessons these selected books teach AND for the wonderful conversations that ensue around the table each week.

Unfortunately, I have class right before the weekly session, so what this means is that usually I am struggling to arrive on time to the faculty book talk.  Despite what time my class ends, the small amount of TIME I need to walk across campus to reach this weekly faculty reading group seems to be consumed by student questions asked AFTER class ends.  Thursday was no exception as three students remained after I prayed for my students (a standard end to our daily class time).

• Jose had a question about a missed assignment.
• Emily asked for assistance with a bibliography citation.
• DJ asked for me to pray for him, for a need that he currently had in his life.

Rather than just agreeing to pray, I asked:  “DJ, may I pray for you right now?”

He agreed, so we stood together in the middle of the classroom with our hands clasped together and bowed our heads as I voiced a prayer for DJ, specifically asking God to bless this student with the request he had voiced.

As I study God’s Word, today I am reminded of another day, another time period, when God led Abraham to pray.  This was the time when God had promised a son to Abraham and Sarah when they were too old to conceive and when the LORD had spoken to His servant Abraham, telling him how he would be a blessing to generations to come.  However, at the moment, Isaac had not been conceived & Sarah had not become pregnant.  It’s important for Christians to remember that To Give is biblically connected To Receive, for God is the source of ALL BLESSINGS.  The prayers we lift for others is one way we bless others.  Also true:  The prayers we lift for others is one way the LORD blesses us.

Abimelech and his wife were unable to have a child.  Abimelech was the king of Gerar, the same king that Abraham lied to when he said Sarah was his sister, rather than truthfully stating she was his wife.  After that bad plan blew up in Abraham’s face, he received the kindness of Abimelech and he learned that (much like him) this man too did not have an heir.  After Abimelech spoke to both Abraham and Sarah, absolving their wrong action of deceit, we read—

• When we see a need, PRAY!
• When we PRAY without selfish motives, with sincerity—GOD ANSWERS & BLESSES OTHERS!
• When we PRAY for others, focusing completely on their need—GOD ANSWERS & BLESSES US!
• When Abraham prayed for Abimelech, asking God to give a child to this king—the LORD ANSWERED & BLESSED BOTH MEN!

To help us understand, pause for a second to consider an ordinary garden hose we hook up to our spigot.  When our yard needs a drink of water, we turn the knob on the spigot, turning on the water, so that it flows from the spigot into the hose.  As the water flows, the inside of the hose carries water.  The grass is watered and grows, but notice:  The hose that carries the water cannot also help but get wet—TOO! Christian music artist Michael W. Smith sings the melody:  “Your Love Is A Flood,” lyrics that speak of the LORD’S blessing received through prayer.

In the Bible we read (right after Abraham prays for Abimelech):

Abraham—Isaac—Jacob:

• The Generations of Blessing promised by the LORD.
• The nation of Israel, the Blessing that touches us even today.

Last week, when my student asked me to PRAY, I am so thankful that I was led by the Spirit to PRAY over his need right then, right there, in his presence.  The LORD brought His blessing to my student.  I know because he spoke of more peace after our time of prayer.

As expected, I was tardy to the faculty reading group—

• Because I paused to answer a student’s question about his missed grade.
• Because I paused to help a student with her bibliography for her research paper. &
• Because I paused to pray for another, lifting his burden to the LORD.

But, today, as I think back,

I am so glad DJ stayed behind to ask me to pray because I so blessed to lift his need to the LORD. Afterwards, as I hurried to the faculty book talk (arriving late), I was blessed with one of the best chapter discussions—Because the Spirit led me to PRAY for another & Because I obeyed.

How beautiful it is to reflect on life and to see how by God’s grace HE provokes us to love and good works by grace through faith.