Several years ago I was playing golf with a couple of young men I didn’t know. We were paired together by the course starter. After introducing ourselves to one another, we eventually asked what each other did for work. They told me they were in the Navy.
I’ll never forget the way they looked at me when I told him I was a pastor. “No swearing or drinking today!” one of them said. Then the other asked, “Did my mom send you?” We laughed.
But that’s not the most memorable moment from that day.
As the round went on, they begin telling me where they were from. I could sense they were homesick. But one of them, whose name was Gary, told me that his mom would be happy to hear he was hanging out with a pastor. He said it kind of kidding around in front of his friend.
But a few moments later, out of range from his friend he said, “Seriously man. Every time I talk to her she wants to know if I’m going to church.”
With that I could feel the Holy Spirit pressing on my heart. “Gary, are you a Christian?” With that simple question, this strong young sailor’s eyes filled with tears. His head hung down and his voice cracked as he shrugged his shoulders and said, “I dunno.”
I put my hand on his shoulder and led him in prayer. Gary made Jesus the Lord of His life right there on the 4th tee box with his friends wide-eyed watching the whole thing.
But that’s still not the most memorable moment of that day.
Throughout the rest of our round Gary told me about his life. How his mom had recently gotten her life together, and how he was actually raised by his grandma. He told me how his grandmother would take him to church, and how when he was about 16 he quit going and rebelled. He told me about joining the Navy to get away. And then fighting back the tears, he told me that his grandma had died last year, and how he wished he could tell her what had just happened to him.
Then the most memorable moment of that day happened.
While listening to Gary, the Holy Spirit made it clear to me that my encounter with him, his brokenness and willingness to pray were all the result of his grandmother’s prayers. I told him what I was sensing. He seemed appreciative. But I have never ever forgotten this.
The Bible tells us, “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person, avails much.” (James 5:16). The Bible also tells us that our prayers are so valuable to God that he keeps them in a bowl in heaven (Rev. 5:8). In other words, prayer is not only powerful, it never expires. There are many things happening in our lives that are a result of other’s prayers, both living and dead. Some day I’ll get a chance to thank a grandma for her prayers over her grandson Gary, but more importantly, so will Gary!
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