Find a Prayer Partner

God declares that He goes into action when we pray. Many times, we hold back because we doubt this, and that doubt can move into unbelief if what we want to pray for seems impossible. But God is the God of the impossible … Isn’t He? Let me tell you a true story.

Sisters, Becky (84) and Christine Smith (82) lived on the Isle of Lewis off the east coast of Scotland. Becky was blind, and Christine was bent over with arthritis, and both were unable to attend church. They lived in the village of Barvas where their church congregation was dwindling, and the youth were mocking the faith and speaking of conversion as a plague. It was a desperate time. In October 1949 the Free Church of Scotland called upon their members to pray. But, what could these two elderly housebound sisters do? They decided that doing nothing was not an option. Instead they turned their cottage into an all-night house of prayer. So, from 10pm – 4am, two nights a week, they pleaded with God to have mercy on their town and their island. After several months, Becky told Christine that God had spoken these words to her: ‘I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground’ (Isaiah 44:3).

Becky took this to heart and urged her minister to conduct a revival and invite the well-known evangelist Duncan Campbell to speak. Campbell refused, but she insisted: “God says he’s coming and he’ll be here in a fortnight.” It happened, and for five weeks Campbell preached every night to overflowing crowds at 7pm, 10pm, midnight and 3am! Many were saved, pubs closed through lack of customers and the Isle of Lewis tasted revival because two elderly women took up the challenge and prayed in agreement.

We live in similarly desperate times. Your village, town, city and nation need an outpouring of God. Revival history shows that nothing begins without the prayers of the saints. We all say we want revival, but actions (prayers) speak louder than just words of agreement. Who will it start with? We can all find excuses not to pray; too busy, too old, too infirm, too tired etc. Yet, it just needs two or three of us to meet together and agree about what we are praying for before God, ‘For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them’ (Matthew 18:20).

What more encouragement do we need?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for being so slow to pray, and when I do, to pray so half-heartedly. Show me who to find that I can join in prayer with, even just one person. Help my unbelief Lord! Let me be amazed at the results and give You all the praise! Amen.