A DADDY’S PRAYER

He was daddy to a twelve-year-old girl… his baby… his pride and joy… the apple of his eye. He loved to watch her sing and skip and play hop-scotch with the neighborhood children. When he gazed at her young beauty, he remembered the toddler she had been and he dreamed of all that she would become. One day, too soon, she would marry and bring him grandchildren.

His name was Jairus. He was a powerful man, wealthier than most of the Galileans who worshipped in the Synagogue he directed. He was respected. Proud.

One can only imagine the initial panic that swelled dramatically as his young daughter grew weaker and sicker. He probably called upon every doctor in the region, begging for a cure. He was willing to do anything, pay anything. Nothing helped.

He’d heard about Jesus. The itinerate rabbi had healed the ill, the leper, even the paralytic. He threw pride and caution aside and marched away from his fine home to the place where Jesus was found. “He fell down at Jesus’s feet and pleaded with him to come to his house, because he had an only daughter about twelve years old, and she was dying” (Luke 8:41-42).

Here we learn important lessons about prayer. Jairus approached the Master with humility. “He fell down at Jesus’s feet.”He prayed with urgency. “Come quickly!” He prayed with passion. The daddy “begged him earnestly, ‘My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live’ ” (Mark 5:23).

As the two men talked, servants from Jairus’s home approached. Their heads were down. Tears filled their eyes. “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” (Mark 5:35).

Jairus might have turned away from Jesus. He didn’t. His urgent and passionate prayer became courageous, bold and faith-filled! “My daughter just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live” (Matthew 9:18). Compassionately, Jesus responded to the religious leader’s prayer. “Don’t be afraid. Only believe” (Mark 5:36).

You know the story (Matthew 9:18-25; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56). Later that day, Mr. and Mrs. Jairus watched from their front-porch swing as the twelve-year-old played hop-scotch again.

So… let’s learn the lessons of humble, passionate, urgent, bold, faithful praying.

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).