Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to “Joni and Friends”.
Archimedes of Syracuse was a Greek mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and engineer who lived about the second century before Christ. This guy was brilliant and his discoveries and theories of engineering influence our thinking to this day. One day before his students, he was speaking on the principles of physics. He was describing the lifting power of a lever, and it was he who said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”
Now obviously Archimedes was imagining a very, very big lever and fulcrum; but presumably, even one tiny tap on that cosmic-sized device could move the whole planet.
And you know I like to think that prayer is like that giant lever. Our smallest efforts, in faith, no matter how faint or feeble the intercessions, if we barely whisper a prayer, that alone can have eternal results that stagger the imagination. Your prayers — even the smallest, weakest little gasps, even when your nouns and verbs are all mixed up and you find yourself praying in a fog — your prayers can move nations and shape the destinies of thousands.
That’s why I often encourage elderly saints who feel as though their usefulness has been lived out and they have nothing more to offer… I remind them that they are in the best position to pray. My friend, Mrs. Sherman who lived until she was 93 years old… she knew that her role in the kingdom was to pray. I tell the same thing to people with disabilities who feel as though they have no way to serve in church. I remind them that they are a part of God's most powerful prayer warriors. “Friend,” I say, “don’t waste your time just sitting around, thinking you have nothing to do. Get to praying!”
Little wonder Psalm 90:12 has us praying to God. It says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” So friend value you your days and make the most of every opportunity for doing good because this is the kind of wisdom God wants you to apply to your 24-hour slices of time.
Pray! Life is so short, whether we’re hale and hearty, in our 80’s or 90’s, or severely disabled.
James 4 warns us, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” No wonder the Bible describes each day as like a thousand years—that’s how priceless and precious days really are! Life is fleeting, and of all the things we waste, let’s not waste the opportunity to pray. Our hardships can be the very platform from which the most powerful prayers can be offered before God's throne. That’s something to especially remember on this day, the World Day of Prayer. So, don’t worry about getting your words right or even in proper order… if you’re feeling faint, if you’re wondering if your usefulness in the kingdom is depleted, don’t go there… you’re needed… you’re required… friend, you’re being called to the front lines, because your prayers do make a difference… a difference for all of eternity.
And one more quick thing: This is your last chance to ask for your free collection of three of my spring cards and envelopes – use them to jot down a prayer and send it to a friend who’s under the weather or needing a lift. Just go online to joniandfriends.org and ask for your sample of my spring cards and envelopes. And finally, thank you for all your prayers for me and the rest of the team at Joni and Friends as we take the Gospel of Jesus to disabled people around the world in prayer. See you later friend… until next time on Joni and Friends.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376