God's Word is a powerful force. When we claim its promises good things happen.
[Darris McNeely] Do we ever stop to consider just how powerful is the Word of God and that when we claim the promises of God's Word good things can happen?
A friend of mine told me a story recently of how he had made a friendship with an individual who was in detention because of violating the law. In his job he goes in and out of an office building where this person was serving her time doing work there to work off her activity. Over the course of time they struck up a friendship. He saw her on a regular basis. And it came time for her now to be set free, and when they were saying goodbye he realized he would probably never see her again, but they had been friends, they made an acquaintance over the weeks at this building facility and it struck him as sad that he would not see her again. And in his parting words he waved and he said, "I pray for you." Very simple, but very profound.
You know I think that in that young girl's life some good things are going to happen. What she will do with them will be up to her. She may not even know why, but she will have opportunity because this one person, sincere and dedicated to the Word of God is going to pray for her.
That's a profound promise because in James 5:16 it does tell us that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. It accomplishes a great deal. God's word is a very, very powerful medium, and when we claim the promises of the Word of God even for praying for someone on a regular basis, prayer affects good changes and good things in peoples' lives. That's a powerful thing for us all to remember to keep in mind.
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Darris McNeely works at the United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. Darris is the Associate Media Producer for the Church. He also is a resident faculty member at the Ambassador Bible Center teaching Acts, Fundamentals of Belief and World News and Prophecy. He enjoys hunting, travel and reading and spending time with his grandchildren.