that certain someone

One of my favorite photos of Dad with my three kiddos on Christmas Eve.

I have a distinct memory from my childhood.  Its as clear in my mind as if it happened just last weekend.  I was probably 9 or 10, sitting in a church service in the pew next to my sister while my parents ministered on the platform.  That was not unusual for us, by any means.  Our family traveled many weekends, all over southern Ontario, singing at churches and dad would preach.  But its one of the songs from our ministry that has been playing like a broken record in my head.  over and over and over again.

It was my dad’s solo, that he often sang.  “Someone is Praying for You.” The words go something like this:

Have the clouds round you gathered in the midst of the storm
Is your ship tossed and battered are you wearied and worn
Don’t lose hope someone’s praying for you this very day
And peace be still is already on the waves

Someone is praying for you, someone is praying for you.
So when it seems you’re all alone, and your heart will break in two.
Remember someone is praying for you

Well, I remember whenever I heard this song, I’d gather up a list in my mind of just exactly who those certain “someones” might be…  All of my grandparents were godly folks,  they were on there.  My GG, she was definitely at the top.  It was a fairly short list.  But beyond that, I’ve never really made sense of the song.  I mean, really – how could I be sure if someone was praying when I needed it?  Emotionally the idea felt good for my heart as that young ten year old girl.  But, it didn’t seem reasonable in practice.

In an effort to be completely transparent, I’ll tell you that sometimes it still doesn’t seem that practical or realistic to me.

This week the song has gone round and round in my head.  I could hear my dad’s voice singing those words clear as a bell.  Was I supposed to be the one praying?  Who was I supposed to pray for?  What did they need?  I had no earthly idea.  And then this morning, on my way to church, it came to mind again and I knew.  I knew I needed to pray for my dad, so I did.  I didn’t even know what I was praying for.  But my Heavenly Father did.

I found out later this evening that my dad, after being ill for more than 24 hours, spent the afternoon in the Emergency Room.  I had no idea.  But clearly, the words of the song came to pass.  Its so interesting to me how the Holy Spirit moved on my dad’s behalf, just as he has promised in Scripture.

There is no doubt that we are to be a praying people, at all times, without ceasing.  That is the command.

pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

And when I proceed the way He intended, living a life filled with prayer, He hears and answers.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1Jn 5:14)

And when we don’t know what to pray for, or how to pray, we have the promise of an intercessor:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)

Turns out that certain “someone” is supposed to be me… And the even better news is, that in my humanity, if I’m completely unaware to His prompting, or if I’m unsure of what to pray for, there is a much better “someone” on every believer’s list of “who’s praying.”  It is the Holy Spirit himself, intervening on my behalf, communicating with the Heavenly Father when I  have no earthly idea what to say.  I’m especially thankful this was true today and I was able to be that ” certain someone” for my dad.

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By the way, I believe dad is home resting and on the road to recovery after a rough bout with a nasty virus.  I’m sure he would be comforted to know you were his “someone” today…