Illegal Arms - from Turning Point devotion

Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered….1 Kings 13:4b

In the book, Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer, Reverend S. B. Shaw reported on a minister who felt impressed to visit an older couple and pray for them. The conviction grew too strong to ignore, so he drove to their house, knocked on the door, knelt down, and prayed earnestly for their protection from violence of any kind. He specifically prayed that if any hand should be raised against them, it would be paralyzed.

Some months later this pastor was visiting a prison. One of the inmates asked to speak to him. This man had gone to the couple's house to steal a sum of money he knew was there. He had crept into the house and, as the minister prayed, raised his gun to fire his pistol.

The prisoner pointed to his right arm, hanging lifeless by his side. "It was paralyzed on the spot," he said, "and I have never moved it since."

God knows how to answer prayer; He knows how to deliver us from our adversaries. And when He prompts us to pray, it's a matter to be taken seriously.

There is no substitute for prayer. Praise is excellent, and good works are noble, but prayer is indispensible. James H. Potts

: I was praying on my way to work this morning and just as I finished mentioning my brothers and started to pray for my nieces and nephews, my phone rang - I ignored it because I didn't recognize the number. When I listened to my voice mail later it was my brother asking that I pray for his daughter. WOW - then I come in a read this devotion.

Listen when the Holy Spirit speaks.

Years ago, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to send a card to someone. I didn't do it. Months later I found out this person was having surgery during that time and was feeling low. What a difference I could have made had I listened and obeyed.

Listen when the Holy Spirit speaks. You may be the one who changes a life!