Was expecting to receive some type of letter from Franklin Graham concerning the passing of his father. Since the passing away of Billy Graham on February 21, 2018, I have received two ministry publications from Samaritan's Purse. The first publication was a special report on the powerful impact of "Operation Heal Our Patriots". This is a Samaritan Purse Ministry, that targets married military couples, impacted by war-related injuries and emotional/psychological combat trauma. I was deeply touched by the report, sensing that it was an area of ministry that reached into the very heart of God.
The second publication was "PrayerPoint", a Samaritan's Purse Ministry of worldwide prayer. On the cover page of the publication: "Rebuilding After the Storm", a featured story/report on the efforts to rebuild homes in Texas, following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. The publication also highlighted many of the Samaritan's Purse ministries that operate around the world. Their world ministries are targeting Latin America, the Caribbeans, North East Africa, Europe, the Middle East, West Africa, Uganda, Nepal, North American Ministries, World Medical Missions, Operation Christmas Child, Children's Heart Project, and Operation Heal Our Patriots. PrayerPoint identified prayer focus needed for each of these Samaritan's Purse ministry focus areas.
Towards the end of the PrayerPoint publication, was mention of the passing of Billy Graham. PrayerFocus by Br. Billy Graham on "Learning to Pray". Here Billy Graham teaches about six practical ways to make daily prayer a part of one's life. [PrayerPoint, Spring 2018, p. 49]*
1) Pray with the right attitude - realize your dependence on God, and trust Him to hear and answer your prayer(s) according to His will.
2) Seek God's will in your prayers and ask above all else that God's will be done. (James 4:3)
3) Bring everything (large or small) to God in prayer. (Philippians 4:6)
4) Pray all the time, by maintaining an attitude of prayer. (I Thessalonians 5:17)
5) Trust God for the outcome of your prayer(s). His answer can include "yes", "wait or not yet", "no", or "trust me, even if you don't understand".
6) Learn to listen or discern the voice or response of God to your prayer(s). (Psalm 37:7)
The above teaching on "Learning to Pray" was taken from Billy Graham's book "The Journey".*
Receiving the two publications from Samaritan's Purse also made me realize the need for continued prayer for Franklin Graham and his family, Samaritan's Purse Ministries, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Will expound on this in an upcoming post.
Happy Resurrection Day to the World!