Acts 9:1-16
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
I would get to the church early, before anyone was around, walk around the empty sanctuary singing hymns out loud and praying. It was 1984, but I wasn’t worried about Big Brother. It was our newborn little brother to his three older brothers for whom I was praying. Earnestly. Desperately. Seeking God’s mercy. Leaning on God’s faithfulness. Singing his praises. Asking for his help.
These days it is not often so urgent. But I still do pray. Every night my phone lights up with texts from call committee members from three different churches. They are seeking a man to serve as their pastor, and I am joining them at 9 PM praying for them. I include prayers for three other churches who don’t have a 9 PM texting ritual of Amens but who have set aside a specific time each day to pray. Every afternoon at 3:33 my phone begins to blink Amens from members of our home Life Group. We chose that time because of God’s promise through the prophet in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
We pray at meal times, and when we go to bed on a regular basis. But there are those times when it becomes vitally important to pray with urgency, clarity, anticipation, and out of a desperate need. Those prayers are different. Or perhaps I should say we express them from a different awareness of our urgent need.
I wonder what Saul’s cohearts thought of this situation. I wonder where they were as Saul was blind and stymied there in Damascus. I wonder if he dismissed his entourage, sending them back to Jerusalem while he waited it out on Straight Street. But I don’t wonder what he was doing. “Saul is praying,” God tells Ananias. Saul was in trouble. Blind and no longer large and in charge. No longer taking care of God’s business. Calling on God to help him in his time of need.
God will answer Saul’s prayer. Out of great love for Saul and for all people, God will send Ananias to heal his physical blindness. He was still in the process of being healed of his spiritual blindness. But that too will come. In fact, I wonder whether Saul’s prayers were two-fold: Help me see how I was persecuting Jesus, and the implications of his intervention in my life. And let me see again.
Is there a prayer on your heart? God is listening. The answer might be more nuanced and complex than you imagine. But it will be a good answer. For God listens to those who call on him in Jesus – whenever that prayer arises.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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