By Larry Banta
Have you ever thought you could be the answer to someone’s prayer?
Soon after I completed my psychiatric training, I moved to Idaho to work for the state and to start a Christian counseling center with a close friend. We were open only a few days when a call came in after our receptionist had left for the day. After greeting the caller, she said, “I have been praying for help. I did not know where to turn; God told me to call you guys.” I put her on hold and said, “Hey Kevin, you better take this; it is a referral from God!” It was the first time I really thought about that. Am I the answer to someone’s prayer? My work was different after that call. I strove to be a good servant and enjoy the privilege of being trusted to be that answer someone was seeking.
God gives each of us certain abilities and resources. We can bury them in the ground (use them for only earthly purposes) or invest in the Kingdom. In Matthew 25 we read of the parable of talents, or bags of gold as translated in NIV. The master entrusted the “gold” to his servants. Two used the gold well and had good return on their investment. They were the trustworthy servants. The reward was God trusting them for more duties and a share in the Master’s happiness.
Matthew 25: 19-23 – “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
What really are the bags of gold? It could be money invested in the Kingdom. Also, it might be considered time, energy, commitment to God and Kingdom work on earth. Accepting Christ as our Savior, we become servants of Almighty God. He is our Master. We call him King. If we are servants of the King and He asks us to do something, we should be honored to do it. It may be the answer to someone’s prayer.
During the late 1990s, I lived in Mexico as a medical missionary. While managing the medical and psychiatric care of an orphanage, we also started a rural medical outreach. We would travel the four hours to the villages on a weekend to provide medical clinics for two days, with some preaching and teaching involved. One time we were returning for the second day from our hotel a few miles from the entrance to the villages. I suddenly remembered we had to stop to restock some items I had run out of the previous day. The pharmacy was along the highway so easily done. We pulled off the road and I ran in to get a few things.
Returning to the van there were several young men gathered around it, awaiting my return. I inquired as to their concerns. One man spoke up: “Some months ago my sister fell from a horse. Since then, she has not been able to walk. Would you please come to see her?” I replied, “Sure, we can stop and check on her.” Having walked the several miles to get there, they hopped in the van and directed our path back to their home.
After the usual greetings on our arrival, they carried the sister out to the main room of the small house. She explained, “I fell from a horse and was hurt but not too bad. A few days later I awakened to find I could not walk.”
I started with a neurologic exam of the extremities and found profound weakness in the legs. As I examined the muscles of the legs, I found tumors all through the legs and upper back, as well as the abdomen. I told the woman, “This is a very serious type of cancer. I do not have medicine for it.” I paused for a moment. “We can pray for her,” I said. “Would that be okay?” The family unanimously responded in the affirmative, but then the mother said, “Please wait for one minute.” She ran from the house and soon the entire village was surrounding the house, awaiting my prayer. I prayed as loud as I could and they all prayed out loud with me. Obviously, this young lady was very dear to the entire community.
We left with plans to return next time and see if we could get some help for her. During the return trip to our home, my co-worker and I were led to provide the money for her to go to the cancer hospital a good distance from her village. We both “happened” to have some extra funds that could be used to pay for her treatment. It was several hundred dollars to start the treatment, way beyond her means.
On our next visit she was responding to the treatment, was walking, and already feeling better. She fully recovered and was seen by us several times over the next few years. Our prayers for her involved us being a part of the answer, as well as for the doctors in the cancer hospital.
As we brought medical help to these villages so long ago, we prayed that God would draw these people to Him. It took a while, but now three churches serve the area, with many who have given their lives to Him. Those prayers were answered by the next people who came to serve after we left to return to the U.S.
Our love for God involves obedience. As we draw closer to Him, the Holy Spirit can make changes in us, and lead us to where we are needed. We are the hands and feet of Jesus so when there are needs, God often uses people to answer those requests. We must be open, listening, ready, and able. As His servant, can He trust you to be that answer?
Romans 12:6-8 tells us, We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
May we be trustworthy servants, ready to be used as the answer to prayer!
Dr. Larry Banta is an author of several books, a retired psychiatrist, and a former missionary. He served in India, Mexico and Kenya. He and his wife, Evelyn, a counselor, travel together to provide consultation and training in various international locations.
