What Ruth Graham Forgot

Ruth Bell Graham tells of awakening at three o’clock in the morning, and the name of one she loved dearly flashed through her mind. She knew there would be no more sleep for her that night. She lay there and prayed for the one who was trying hard to run from God. In the dark, her imaginations ran wild. 

Suddenly the Lord spoke to her. “Quit studying the problems and start studying the promises.”

She turned on the light, got out her Bible, and turned to Philippians 4:6, 7. The Amplified version has it, “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition [definite requests] with thanksgiving continue to make your wants known to God.”

Suddenly she realized the missing ingredient in her prayers had been “with thanksgiving,” so she put down her Bible and began worshiping God for who and what He is and thanking Him for giving her the one she loved so dearly. She even thanked Him for the difficult spots that taught her so much.

And when she did, it “was as if someone turned on the lights in my mind and heart, and the little fears and worries that had been nibbling away in the darkness like mice and cockroaches hurriedly scuttled for cover.”

Thank You, Jesus, for the joy of praising You.

“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).