I long enjoyed the encouragement of Frank, a former dentist. I first met Frank as a kid in his chair, but several years later I uncovered a fascinating and wonderful side of Frank.

My dentist held a secret power.

My wife and I worked in campus ministry, and Frank and his wife were some of our donors. They gave every month, faithfully fulfilling their pledge and keeping us on the field. One afternoon Frank gave me a call. I recently spoke at his church and since he was on vacation we missed each other, so he wanted to catch up.

In the midst of our conversation, Frank mentioned that he prayed for me and my wife and our kids by name every day. I asked, Frank, when you say “every day,”—do you mean literally “every day?”

Frank, in his quiet Ozarks drawl, replied, Well, I suppose not every day exactly. Early in the morning I sit down in front of my computer and pray for all the missionaries around the world we support. I’m pretty faithful, but I miss here and there.

I shamelessly probed—how many days did you miss last year?

Frank answered without thinking. All of last year I missed 4 days, then humbly added, but this year I’m going to do better.

I had to sit down.

The Lord brought Frank to mind this morning when I read about a man praying for the believers in Colossae. Ephaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Frank labored for my wife and me and our kids and all the other blessed people on his long list. 361 out of 365 he turned on that old desktop machine in his kitchen, sat with his coffee, and went to work.

I have rarely experienced a more humbling, and powerful, phone call.

Not surprisingly, when I heard the news of Frank’s passing several years ago I felt a fading in my spirit. One powerful pillar removed to glory.

I’m slow to pray, usually impatient and looking out the window like a kid caught in school. But I’m getting better. Perhaps part of the wisdom of age involves the slow realization that prayer holds far more power than I imagined. And laboring in prayer yields results far beyond what I see.

Just a thought as I read a few lines of scripture and remember my dentist with the secret power.

Colossians 4 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Jon Tyson