“Ninety Minutes in Heaven” is a true story by Don Piper, a book and now also a movie.  Don was a pastor while on his way from work, a tractor trailer truck hits him head on.  They had pronounced him dead until a man stops and feels compelled to go and pray for him.  He climbs through the debris of the car and gets as close to Don as possible and begins praying.  Don is not dead, and the man who is praying yells to the others that he needs help.  Don does survive but reveals that heaven is a thing…He was dead for 90 minutes and so Don tells his story years later after he recovers from a painful recovery.

In Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus teaches his disciples the Lord’s Prayer.  It is a prayer that encompasses everything that we need – food for the day, the presence of God in our lives, to be forgiven so that we forgive others, and the hope and promise of our eternal life.  Jesus never promises to give us what we want – like a new car or house, but always will give us what we need. In fact, most times, Jesus knows what we need even before we do – such as in the case of Don whose life laid in the balance between heaven and earth.

Prayer changes things.  Prayer opens a dialogue between you and God. I sometimes wonder if God is just waiting on us to ask for what we need. Or, does God know what we need better than what we think we need? I believe that sometimes we think what we need is not what we need at all – and then we miss what God is giving us or showing us.

After Don’s recovery, he met the man who came and prayed for him that day. Don said that he will never forget him holding his hand and feeling his presence of love and prayer.  The man said, “I never held your hand.  I could not get that close to you.”  God provided what Don needed at that horrible and difficult time in his life – a presence that he was not alone!

God will give you what you need – ask him today to provide for what you need.  Keep your heart open to discover the changes in your life.

Let us pray, Lord Jesus, you not only pray for us, but you also teach us how to pray.  Help us to remember that you provide for us everything that we need and know our needs even before we do.  We love you so much, Amen.