The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29
Sportswriter Waddy Spoelstra and his wife Jean are both octogenarians who demonstrate each day the importance of a life of faith in Jesus Christ.
Jean has suffered from congestive heart failure for 3 years. After she had a medical checkup last fall, her doctor announced, “Your heart is good and your lungs are clear. It seems that both are in the process of healing.” When Waddy responded with “Praise the Lord,” the physician replied, “That’s it. You two have positive attitudes. You believe in answered prayer. As I’ve said before, prayer is a big part of medical care.”
It’s exciting to hear about a doctor who acknowledges the connection between prayer and patient care. It’s not a new idea, though. Studies have shown that prayer can accelerate the healing process, whether it’s the patient or others who do the praying. But we don’t really need studies to prove that prayer works. God’s Word tells us it does.
Have you spent time talking to the Lord about your trials? He knows how to meet your needs—whether through His direct intervention (Psalm 34:17) or through the comfort of His presence (v.18). Trust Him today with your heart.
Prayer brings us peace and gives us power
To walk the Christian way;
Prayer links us with the living God—
Therefore we need to pray. —Anon
Daily prayers are the best remedy
for daily cares.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. 22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
Insight
One of the most comforting verses in the Bible is Psalm 34:18. When we are hurting, He notices and cares. When we suffer, He comes near and rescues. When we need Him, our Lord sees our broken heart and our contrite spirit. He ministers to us in the depth of our soul—and at the point of our pain.
