Prayerfully Arranged Marriage

Prayerfully Arranged Marriage
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
02-18-2011

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).

James Rutz, author of MegaShift, tells a wonderful story of God's supernatural hand in answering prayer.

"I have a good friend named Barclay Tait who sells vacation real estate in Niceville, Florida. Back in 1977, he was a 36-year-old Florida basketball coach. That summer, he decided to hitch-hike to a Christian conference in Front Royal, Virginia. Arriving four days early, he went to a nearby forest and pitched his tent by a stream. On the last day, a tall, thin hiker with a notebook under his arm suddenly appeared, startling him as he read his Bible. Barclay explained that he came out there to fast and meditate.

Dave, the hiker, replied, "Well, I'm an intercessor. What would you like me to pray for?"

Feeling somewhat overwhelmed, Barclay said, "Uh, frankly, I'd like prayer for a wife." The man wrote the request in his notebook and walked on.

By 1988, Barclay, now married to Sherry, has been divinely guided to move to Asheville, North Carolina. A chance encounter in the Holiday Inn parking lot led to an invitation to join a gathering of a Christian group outside of town. Arriving just before the 7:00 P.M. meeting, the host walks in from the kitchen and stops dead in his tracks. "I know you!" he exclaims, pointing his finger. "You're Barclay Tait!" Barclay draws a blank.

"Just a minute. I have something I want to show you," the host announces. He scampers upstairs, leaving the puzzled Taits standing in the middle of the suddenly hushed room. In a moment the host reappeared with a well-worn ledger book. "See here? This is where I wrote your prayer request in column one when I met you in Front Royal in 1977: 'Barclay Tait: God's choice for a wife.'" Barclay looked down at the journal entry. It was the most detailed, methodical prayer journal he'd ever seen.

"I prayed for you for seven years," proclaims Dave. "Then in the middle of the night on December 30, 1984, God woke me up out of a sound sleep and said, 'Write in your journal, "Prayer answered." So I did. See? Here in column two, "Prayer answered.'"

Barclay and Sherry look at each other with their mouths open. They sat down, and their eyes fill with tears. Quietly, Barclay tells Dave, "That was the day we were married."

Today's Prayer

Dear God, It is you who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Thank you for making my feet like the feet of a deer; enabling me to stand on the heights. Thank you for training my hands for daily obstacles, battles, and spiritual hurdles. Thank you for giving me your shield of victory. Thank you for broadening the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn (based on 2 Samuel 22:33-37). I praise and worship You, Almighty God. I trust you to work in me to keep my feet on solid ground and to help me be a witness of Your saving grace to my family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. May all glory and honor be unto you. In Jesus' name, amen.


Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders

The Spirit's Work

Dr. Charles Stanley

Acts 2:38-39

There is an abundance of failure in the community of faith today. Sadly, it's all too common to find believers who aren't living as Scripture teaches—and they are missing out on the joy and peace that Jesus promised. The reason? When followers of Christ don't recognize the need to live in the Spirit, they attempt to push through each day in their own strength.

On Pentecost, God's Spirit came to indwell believers. He is a gift, blessing us in many ways. Let's consider some of the works He does. The Holy Spirit . . .

• Convicts our hearts of sin so that we can repent and be right with God (John 16:8).

• Regenerates us. We are new beings, alive in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

• Seals us forever as a child of the Almighty (Eph. 1:13). We don't ever have to fear the loss of our salvation.

• Teaches, guides, counsels, and empowers us throughout life (John 14:26). Left to our own devices, we confuse truth with deception, but God brings clarity.

• Gifts and enables us to do the work God has planned for us (Eph. 2:10; for a list of spiritual gifts, see also 1 Cor. 12).

• Bears fruit through us (Gal. 5:22-23). As we are obedient to what God calls us to do, we get to watch Him work in mighty ways.

All these benefits are available to everyone who follows Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, we too often bypass all of these by attempting to live in our own meager strength. The Christian life is this: Christ living His life in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit of the living God.


For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.



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