Becoming a Gentleman: The Sling for God, Part 13

February 8, 2021

Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping.

~ Psalms 6:8 NIV ~

One year while I was still teaching, there was a Grade 8 student in the school who was a real tough guy. No one liked him, and he had no friends. As a result of his behavior, the principal had him sent to a special school for kids with behavior problems.

This student actually wasn’t in my classroom, but while he was still at our school, I made friends with him. After being sent away, this young man came to see me at my school every week. “You are my best friend,” he would say.

Why would he say something like that?

Because I listened to him and helped him whenever I could. No one else gave him the time of day.

What the student didn’t know was that I was also praying for him, and by the end of the school year, he was a changed young man.

That is the power of prayer, friends! When we pray for people and are open to the calling of the Holy Spirit as to how to help them, we open the door for God to begin to work wonders in hearts!

David says, “Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; he Lord accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.” (Ps. 6:8-10 NIV). We need to understand that the troubled people around us are that way because they are being influenced by the evil one. When God hears our prayers for these people, He accepts our prayers. Our enemies will be turned back, and as in the case of this problem student, some of their lives will be completely turned around.

Is there someone around you who is troubled? Someone who doesn’t seem to know how to treat people right? Someone who is mean? Rude? Accusing? Recognize that they are not acting on their own, but that they are under the influence of the evil one. Pray for them, ever believing that God hears your prayers, He accepts them, and these people will be turned around!

And as in the case of some, the troubled student may become a perfect gentleman! Our Father is amazing!

In His love,
Rob Chaffart

Announcements

Have you experienced any answered prayers? No matter how big or small, our testimony can be a blessing to others. Please consider submitting your testimonies of answered prayers for inclusion on the Sermon Illustrator website. 

Submit your testimonies via email here; or via What'sApp to +1 (473) 417-8412