PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

He ran down the street yellowing, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!
He had a panic in his heart and an urgency that pulled at the ears of the hearers.
Many turned to look, was there something chasing him? was there a message to accompany this urgent command?
Their minds started to think of all the reasons he could be running and yelling in such a way.
The word "Pray" was not foreign to them but the actions were something of a small scale and hardly ever commanded an immediate response, so why in the world is he running and yellowing?

PRAY!PRAY!PRAY!

This is all he could get out, nothing else made sense fore he knew to explain would cause the listeners to lessen the need and make light the urgency so he just continued to run and yell.
He grabbed coats of men, looked at them with eyes of fear and panic begging them to PRAY!PRAY!PRAY! He grabbed the forearm of women and looked up with eyes of a persuasive child helpless, in need and tears of pain gliding down his cheek yelling PRAY!PRAY!PRAY!. He looked softly into the eyes of little boys and girls compelling and encouraging them that prayer from their hearts was needed as well and expressed PRAY!PRAY!PRAY!

Was he mad? Was he crazy?
He was a familiar face to the townspeople but it was his voice that pulled their attention. Soon nothing else would matter.

This story has TWO endings depending on ONE thing--their response.
One ending is that because their hearts were connected to the same source that caused him to run with urgency, they dropped to their knees and layed down on the streets-men, women, boys and girls-and began to pray to the Father God through the Son Jesus Christ via this unction of the Holy Spirit. You see they knew the same scripture that sent him running with panic that day--If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2Chronicles 7:14). They knew if they called on God, God would respond.
So prayer begot prayer...and repentance begot worship...and God responded with healing, restoration, miracles and revival. God healed every aspect of their "land."

The other ending is that they starred at him, told him to stop being ridiculous and causing a scene. They became angry in their hearts because they felt no urgency and pride took a front stance. They attempted to use their evil stares and words to discourage him and they refused to respond and pray. Men and women told their children to ignore him, and gossiped amongst themselves. There was no repentance, no response of healings, restoration, miracles nor revival from God...they did not humble themselves and pray....so God could not heal their land.

The urgent heart continued on time after time until one day the Lord spoke and said, "My son, I am grateful for your faithful heart to warn the people, they can never say my love was not extended to them nor can they ever say they did not know. This was your calling...to call them to me...and you did well my good and faithful servant, come home and rest."

The question to ponder is this, in your town today which ending to the story is most likely to occur...unfortunately just like my town, the second ending. May we respond differently tomorrow, it really could be the last day God sends an urgent, crying heart begging us to PRAY!PRAY!PRAY! By the way, this is not a hypothetical story. Selah.