Someone on your mind? Pray for them.

2 Timothy 1:3 (ESV)

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

On the morning of 24 May 1985, Kent Lenard awoke at his home in Lake Moses, Washington at 1 am. He became aware that his missionary son John and his family in South Africa needed his prayer. “PRAY! The command I sensed was urgent” recalls Kent.

Fully awake, Kent began to pray not knowing his sons situation, “Please Lord, help John and Sandy and their girls, protect them if they are in danger.”

Meanwhile in South Africa, John and Sandy were with their two daughters driving through the bush to photograph elephants. John parked and left his family in the car while he explored a trail. He saw an older bull elephant and began photographing it. John then began hearing a “low rumbling” that reminded him of thunder. He began having an uneasy feeling and headed back to the car.

Suddenly, John spotted 200 hundred huge, thirsty elephants stampeding toward his car. The rumbling that he had heard was their running for miles across the dry bush. Racing through John’s mind were the pictures that he has seen of uprooted trees and overturned cars in the path of angry elephants. He recalled a seasoned missionary telling him to never stand between thirsty elephants and their source of water, because they become violent if their access is threatened. But right in the middle of the path to their water stood John and the car with his family in it.

Hearing his family’s screams, John raced for his car and reached the door just as the first of the elephants was upon him. He jumped in and slammed the door and immediately the car was engulfed in dust. Miraculously, the elephants passed on both sides of the car, only scraping the bumpers and rocking it. When the last of the elephants passed and the dust settled, John told his family that someone must be praying for them, because it was a miracle that they were not crushed. After almost an hour of prayer, Kent sensed the Lord’s peace and closed in prayer saying “Thank You Lord I know that John’s family is in your hands” and he went back to sleep.

Is someone on your mind or heart? Pray for them.

Dear Lord, we pray for those that You bring to our mind. Help our minds and hearts be open to the things that You are saying to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.