WE ARE BLESSED NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE PRAYED…!

Are we thinking that it is our prayers that bring blessings in our lives? It need not be so. It can be the prayers of others as well! Are our prayers selfish?

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors (let us name them Tom & Jo) decided to pray. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, Tom saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. Jo's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, both were lonely and they decided to pray for a wife. The next day, there was a woman who swam to Tom’s side of the Land.  On the other side of the island, there was nothing.

Soon Tom prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of them were given to him. However, still Jo had nothing.

Finally, Tom prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. He boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave Jo on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, Tom heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"

"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

We should be aware that our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of others praying for us.

Let us become interceders. My prayer for you today is that all your prayers are answered. Be blessed.

"What you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself"

LET’S PRAY FOR EACH OTHER.