A missionary on furlough told this true story as part of his sermon while visiting his home church in Michigan:

While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I travelled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital. Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time witnessed to him of the Lord Jesus Christ. I then travelled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident.

Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, "Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards." At this I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone out in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said, "No sir, I was not the only person to see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone."

At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet, interrupted the missionary, and asked if he could tell him the exact day that this happened. The missionary told the congregation the date, and the man who interrupted told him this story: "On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here, and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?"

The men who had met together to pray that day stood up. The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were — he was too busy counting how many men he saw. There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways. If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it. Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell. With God all things are possible, and more importantly, God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful.

Author unknown

Prayer: O God, we give you thanks for the beautiful gift of faith, for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles you work in our daily life. Help us to remember that, when we pray, much more is accomplished than what we can see. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Imagine praying and hearing this:

Thank you for calling the Divine Service Department. Your call is important to us. In order to speed the processing of your enquiry, please select one of the following four options. If you do not have a touch-tone phone, please stay on the line and an angel will be with you momentarily.

For service in Spanish, press 1.
For service in French, press 2.
For service in English, press 3.
For more options, press 0.

[You press 3.]

For requests, press 1.
For thanksgiving, press 2.
For complaints press 3.
For praise reports, press 4.
For all other inquiries, press 0.

[You press 1.]

All of our angels are helping other customers right now. Please do not hang up, as your call is placed in priority sequence, and you will be served faster than if you re-dial.

[recorded harp music…]

The Divine Service Department is pleased to announce extended office hours. Effective immediately, we will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time, Tuesday through Sunday. Please do not hang up, as your call is placed in priority sequence, and you will be served faster than if you re-dial.

[more recorded harp music…]

Hello! This is the angel Gabriel. How may I help you?

I'd like to talk to God, please.

Just one moment. I'll connect you.

[Ring… ring… ring…]

Hello, God's office. How may I help you?

Yes, I'd like to speak to God, please.

I'm sorry, God is in a conference just now. I've been instructed not to disturb Him. What's your Access Code Number?

120-398-498-946

Our records show that you have called once today already with a request. Please be advised that because this is a complimentary service and resources are limited, each caller is restricted to one request per day. Please call again tomorrow.

Thanks a lot! Good-BYE!

Can you imagine getting these kinds of responses as you call on God in prayer?

Thank God, you can't call Him too often! You only need to speak and God hears you. You never get a busy signal; you never get a recorded announcement. God takes each call and knows each caller personally. All lines are open to heaven 24 hours a day!

Jeremiah 33:3 – This is what the Lord says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Prayer: Thank You, God that you hear me whenever I call upon you, and even when the heavens seem silent, You are still there, watching over me in Your infinite love and wisdom. Thank You! In Jesus' name. Amen.

From an idea submitted by: