In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

— Daniel 7:13-14

             Sometimes God speaks to us in visions or dreams. So far as I recall, this has never (yet) happened to me. However, I will share with you a story that was told to me by a reputable source, a preacher here in Arkansas. He has a friend, he said, who has seen God move in some incredible ways. Once, after hearing yet another fantastic tale from this friend, he asked his friend something to the tune of— “Why hasn’t God moved like that in my life?” To which his friend responded, simply— “Pray.” The friend then professed to sometimes praying for hours a day. The preacher was humbled. He realized he’d let the concerns of daily life get in the way of his relationship with God. He made a commitment then-and-there to spend an hour each day, for the next thirty days, doing nothing but praying and conversing with God.

             When he returned home, the preacher got to work creating a “prayer closet” for himself. He got up an hour earlier each day, and he spent his first hour of waking life each day, intently talking to God. On the thirteenth day, he got a call from his brother. Now, he and his brother were a bit estranged, as their turbulent childhood drove him into the arms of God, whereas it drove his brother away. He was amazed to hear his brother say that he had found God. What? How? When? What happened?

             His brother had been camping in the woods. He was asleep one night in the cabin, when he suddenly awoke, gripped by the most horrifying, dreadful sensation. He couldn’t shake it. He was more scared than he’d ever been in his life, yet he couldn’t say why. He cowered in his bunk for what felt like hours. Then, not knowing what else to do, he started praying. He prayed earnestly. He finally got the courage to get up, and to get out of the cabin. He started running, although he knew not why. He ran down the dirt country road until he saw a man standing in his path. He stopped. The man appeared to be glowing, and he spoke to him. The irrational fear and darkness that had been haunting him so palpably, melted away, replaced by a profound sense of peace, a reassuring calm & stillness like nothing he’d ever felt before. He said he knew it was Jesus. He was so grateful, that he repented right then and made a vow to change his ways.

             The preacher stated that his brother had traveled so far off the straight-and-narrow path, that he’d almost given up hope for him. He still prayed for him. And he had been praying even more intently for him since he started his new morning vigil. He truly couldn’t believe his ears when his brother told him the good news. He’s been an even more staunch proponent of prayer as a necessary component of every Christian’s life since this miracle occurred in his. He now shares this story, his brother’s story, as part of his personal testimony of how God has moved in his life. Pretty radical, huh?