Walt is a man of prayer who calls our pastoral department about once a month for a “prayer of agreement” (Matthew 18:19). I always enjoy hearing how the Lord is using him for His glory. Retired, he occasionally takes on a part-time job for additional income, and wherever he works, he openly offers prayers for others, by their permission. He shared an incident with me that is a good life lesson, and I want to pass it on to you.

This year, Walt worked for a brand-new restaurant as a hospitality host, and last month, he waited on a couple who had come in during a busy lunch period. The place was hopping—buzzing with background chatter, laughter, and music—but he still enjoyed a bit of chitchat with the husband and wife. Sometime after they had left the restaurant, they returned in a panic. That’s when Walt called on the Name of the Lord to restore their peace. Let’s start at the beginning, as he told the story.

“J. D., this precious senior couple came into the restaurant, recently. They stood out amidst the crowd of younger people. He was wearing a black and red checkered flannel shirt, shuffling along with a cane in one hand, and holding onto her arm with the other. You could see the pain of age etched across his face as he walked gingerly. They spotted a table close to the door and were seated before I could even greet them. When I arrived at their table with the menus, they smiled warmly and shared the enthusiasm of their weekly outing.”

“She bubbled with enthusiasm, ‘Oh, we always come to town together on Fridays to run our errands, and we get to dine out, so I don’t have to cook. And today, I talked Jack into trying your new restaurant. It sure smells good in here, and we’re sure hungry.’

“‘We have been married for 52 years,’ he added, ‘and Mildred still doesn’t know how to pick out the best apples. I’m the apple connoisseur in the family, so she leaves that to me. I picked out some really dandy ones today, for certain.’

“J. D., the banter they shared with each other was so cute—it was ‘Honey’ this and ‘Honey’ that. You could tell they had a good rhythm to their relationship. Mildred came to the cash register to pay the bill while he remained seated. I watched her fumble for her little cash purse that she carried in her rather large purse. She chattered away, telling me how they needed to get on to the Dollar Store to buy some thank you cards, then get him home before he was totally worn out. She paid their bill and I returned to the table with her to help him up. He mumbled some words under his breath describing his pain, and I opened the door for them and watched them shuffle out to their car.”

Walt went on, “Nearly an hour later, after our lunch crowd had dissipated, I noticed them coming through the front door again and went to greet them. But their broad smiles were gone, replaced by a look of panic and furrowed brows.

“Mildred started rambling about their situation, ‘We left here, got to the Dollar Store, found a motorized scooter for Jack, and he went one way while I went the other to get the cards. When we met and went through the checkout line, I reached into my purse and couldn’t find my little red cash purse. I dumped my purse upside down on the counter, and it was gone! I panicked, because all our money and credit cards were in there. A kind lady helped me retrace my steps at that store, but we didn’t find it. The last time I knew I had it was when I was here, and I wonder if anyone turned it in to you?’ she asked hopefully.

“Well, J. D., nothing had been turned in at the restaurant, so we searched the area where they were seated and didn’t spot it. They frantically requested permission to search the trash bin, as she had dumped her box of leftovers in it when departing our restaurant. Of course, we assisted them in the search and we were all up to our knees in trash.

“They were crestfallen when we didn’t find Mildred’s purse. I suggested we pray, and she readily agreed. So all the staff and this sweet couple bowed their heads as I prayed.

“‘Father God,’ I prayed, ‘this couple cannot find the credit cards or the currency they left home with. You know they can’t afford this loss and are desperate to find this little red purse, and You know exactly where it is. We claim the promises found in Scripture that the Holy Spirit can and does come to our rescue in a desperate situation. We thank you for the privilege of knowing we can claim Your promises, and we ask that You come immediately to their rescue, and bless them with a miracle, so they can rejoice in Your goodness and care for them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.’”

As Walt related their story, I was on the edge of my seat to hear what great thing God had done. “How did it turn out?” I asked,

“Oh, J. D., I really don’t know. That was my last day at the restaurant, and I’ve never seen them again. My hope is that they found it in their car, under or between the seats. All I know is that I was privileged to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and I prayed with them. It brought them peace. The rest is up to God. But, J. D., I’ll tell you one thing I have learned in life that keeps me in tune with Heaven; when the Lord says pray, I pray.”

Well, my friends, that is the end of this story as it was told to me. Was the little red purse stolen? Was it wedged between the car seats to be discovered later? I wish we knew how the Lord worked it out, but we don’t. However, I do trust that God showed up to help them—and that’s why He urged Walt to pray for them and invite His intervention.

And this is an important life lesson for all of us. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to pray for someone, we need to step out in faith and pray. That’s our responsibility of response to His leading. It’s the right thing to do. Leave the details of a happy ending up to God. He is good at that!

Prayer invites God’s answer. May our attitude be, “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:16–17.

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