The Power of Prayer
This true story comes from 19th century China.
Twelve year old Na Ma Si came home from his far away school to spend his holiday and found nobody there. He sat down to rest on the doorstep of the family home where his father was the village priest.
Na Ma Si had not been sitting there for long when he saw someone in the distance galloping towards the house. The rider who seemed in a state of distress, was someone from a distant village. The rider asked if the priest was at home and the boy replied that his father was away. This news made the man upset and he quickly explained why he had come. He had been sent from a distant village to return with the priest because his friend's wife needed to be exorcised. He explained how in her distressed the demon possessed lady pulled our her hair, tore her clothes, scratched her face and broke the furniture in the house. She foamed at the mouth and was in a state of total physical and spiritual exhaustion. Na Ma Si, not knowing what to say, kept repeating, 'My father is away'. Suddenly the man fell on his knees and in desperation implored the child, saying 'You are also a man of God. Come to help us.'
A few moments of silence followed during which Na Ma Si weighed up the situation in his heart. Although he was a child Na Ma Si knew that his heart was committed to the Lord and he was not afraid to confess Christ as his Saviour. He decided, like little Samuel in the Tabernacle, to obey the Lord's call. They mounted the horse together and headed for the distant village. On the way thoughts filled the boy's mind. Was he, a child of 12 years old worthy for such a mission? He prayed and asked for cleansing in his heart and reliance on the Grace and Mercy of God and to be led by the Holy Spirit. When they arrived at their destination they found all the members of the family holding the woman down on her bed. They had told her a priest would come and as soon as she heard the footsteps in the yard she started screaming. 'Quick, let me go. There's a man of God coming. His name is Na Ma Si'.
The boy went into the house and after the customary greetings sang a hymn to praise the Lord. He then commanded the demon to leave the woman. Immediately she calmed down and lay quietly on the bed. From that day she had been perfectly well. However she was astonished to be told that she had called out the name of the boy although she had not met or heard of him previously.
Dear reader, I do not know if this story has spoken to your heart but I pray that you will acknowledge God's hand in your life and that you will experience the power of prayer which works for those who sincerely seek Him and obey Him.
This true story comes from 19th century China.
Twelve year old Na Ma Si came home from his far away school to spend his holiday and found nobody there. He sat down to rest on the doorstep of the family home where his father was the village priest.
Na Ma Si had not been sitting there for long when he saw someone in the distance galloping towards the house. The rider who seemed in a state of distress, was someone from a distant village. The rider asked if the priest was at home and the boy replied that his father was away. This news made the man upset and he quickly explained why he had come. He had been sent from a distant village to return with the priest because his friend's wife needed to be exorcised. He explained how in her distressed the demon possessed lady pulled our her hair, tore her clothes, scratched her face and broke the furniture in the house. She foamed at the mouth and was in a state of total physical and spiritual exhaustion. Na Ma Si, not knowing what to say, kept repeating, 'My father is away'. Suddenly the man fell on his knees and in desperation implored the child, saying 'You are also a man of God. Come to help us.'
A few moments of silence followed during which Na Ma Si weighed up the situation in his heart. Although he was a child Na Ma Si knew that his heart was committed to the Lord and he was not afraid to confess Christ as his Saviour. He decided, like little Samuel in the Tabernacle, to obey the Lord's call. They mounted the horse together and headed for the distant village. On the way thoughts filled the boy's mind. Was he, a child of 12 years old worthy for such a mission? He prayed and asked for cleansing in his heart and reliance on the Grace and Mercy of God and to be led by the Holy Spirit. When they arrived at their destination they found all the members of the family holding the woman down on her bed. They had told her a priest would come and as soon as she heard the footsteps in the yard she started screaming. 'Quick, let me go. There's a man of God coming. His name is Na Ma Si'.
The boy went into the house and after the customary greetings sang a hymn to praise the Lord. He then commanded the demon to leave the woman. Immediately she calmed down and lay quietly on the bed. From that day she had been perfectly well. However she was astonished to be told that she had called out the name of the boy although she had not met or heard of him previously.
Dear reader, I do not know if this story has spoken to your heart but I pray that you will acknowledge God's hand in your life and that you will experience the power of prayer which works for those who sincerely seek Him and obey Him.
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