Soon after Missionary Amy Carmichael arrived in India, she was distressed because orphan girls were given to Hindu temples to be used as prostitutes. Her heart ached for those girls, so she started an orphanage hoping to rescue them.

There are some people for whom prayer has been a disappointment. They say they can’t believe God because they once tried prayer and “it didn’t work.” Fortunately, our prayer lives can move through this stage of prayer to a more adult response.

Jim Downing, former chairman of The Navigators’ board, noticed that in Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:3 he was called to meditate on the Word of God day and night. To meditate at night, Downing begins his Bible reading in the evening, often using the Psalms.

Leonard Ravenhill says one old interpretation of the following verse explains why there was weeping when the early farmers sowed seed.

I had waited for a decision that would directly affect my life in major ways. I began to look forward to the changes that would occur when the months of waiting were over. More than that, though, I looked to the Lord. His will would be perfect no matter what the outcome would be.

While serving in the Philippines as missionaries, on May 27, 2001, Martin and Gracia Burnham were abducted by a militant Islamic group and held captive for 376 days. On the afternoon of June 7, 2002, a rescue attempt managed to free Gracia although her leg was wounded. Martin, though, was killed.

My husband and I have taken many early morning prayer walks. One morning as we were walking and praying, Daniel asked God to put an “iron dome” over those we were bringing to Him. We have used that phrase many times since. Just as the iron dome in the news is designed to intercept and destroy rockets fired toward Jerusalem, God has told us to take up our “iron dome.” “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Eph. 6:16).

There is a fascinating story behind the last song William Cowper wrote. Cowper, who died in 1800, often struggled with depression and doubt. One night he decided to go to the Thames River and end his life. He called a cab and asked him to drive him to the river.