Years ago I read that Dr. James and Shirley Dobson fasted one day each week for their children. They felt a day spent in added prayer helped wrap their kids in extra protection. In time, as Dr. Dobson’s health wouldn’t permit him to fast, Shirley continued with the weekly privilege of interceding for their family.
I liked the idea and adopted it for myself. Our children were young teenagers then. Throughout their high school years I kept my weekly commitment to give them the added prayer time. I prayed for God to help them make good decisions. I prayed for good health, safety, purity, honesty, and for God to convict them if they strayed from the path they both knew was right.
When our daughter, Angel entered college, I foolishly thought her absence would “take the heat off” in my prayer time. On the contrary! Not knowing where she was all the time kept me on my knees even more. I held my ground, fasting weekly.
The next year Alex, our son, joined her in college. I continued in my commitment. Angel had always been shy and Alex was outgoing.
It was the 1990’s and we didn’t have cell phones. Because Angel called nearly every day we subscribed to an 800 number for their convenience. I foolishly expected the same communication from Alex. Not so! Often days passed without hearing from him. I upped my prayer time.
One day when Alex was a sophomore, he called home. After the perfunctory chit-chat, he paused. Then nearly bursting he said, “Mom have you been praying for me?”
“Of course. I pray for you and Angel every day and fast one day a week.”
“Well stop it!”
“What?” I was confused.
“I knew you were praying for me last night and you can just stop now.” His voice softened.
I chucked. “No. Sorry, son. I won’t.” Especially now, I mused.
We had a nice talk and he concluded the conversation with sweet words of appreciation and promised to call the following week. I hung up the phone and stood motionless. Should I be happy or angry? Then an enormous smile took over my face. As I replayed the conversation in my head, I couldn’t make that smile disappear.
“Thank You, Lord,” I whispered. As I hurried off to my next task, a new conversation of prayer for my kids consumed my mind.
Even when I couldn’t be there in person, the Holy Spirit was—watching over my kids, bringing memorized scripture to their minds at just the right times, reminding them of His goodness and presence.
A new dimension was added to my prayers that day. Lord, bring scripture back to their minds at the most inopportune time for them; the perfect time for You.
Kelly J. Stigliano has been a speaker and writer for over 20 years. She and her husband, Jerry, enjoy life in Orange Park, FL. To learn more, visit www.kellystigliano.com.
About Kelly Stigliano
Kelly J. Stigliano has been writing and speaking for over 3 decades. She and Jerry have celebrated more than 30 wedding anniversaries together—all proof of God’s redemptive power! Kelly made bad choices for years and shares the lessons she’s learned along the way, hoping to keep others from making the same mistakes. Because no one benefits when we wear masks, she tries to stay transparent. “Everyone has skeletons in their closets, but my closets don’t have doors on them!”
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