From an email....

By John Henry Beukema

From "Discernment for light moments with a weighty purpose"

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Fred Craddock tells of a young pastor visiting an elderly woman in the hospital. The novice pastor finds the woman to be quite ill, gasping for breath, and obviously nearing the end of her life. In the midst of oxygen tubes, bags, and beeping medical monitors, the pastor read some Scripture and offered what spiritual comfort he could.

He asked, "Would you like to have prayer before I go?"

With what appeared to be her last ounce of strength, the lady whispered a yes.

The pastor asked, "What would you like me to pray for today?"

Without hesitation the patient responded in a raspy voice, "That I would be healed."

The pastor gulped. He started thinking, "This poor lady can't accept the inevitable. This is like asking God to vaporize the calories from a dozen Krispy Kremes. She isn't facing reality."

In a moment of wisdom, the young minister kept his thoughts to himself and began to intercede on her behalf, sort of. He chose a safe prayer.

"Lord, we pray for your sustaining presence with this sick sister, and if it be your will, we pray she will be restored to health and service. But if it's not your will, we certainly hope she will adjust to her circumstances."

Immediately after the pastor put an amen on his safe prayer, the woman opened her eyes and promptly sat up in bed. Then she threw off her covers, plopped her feet over the side, and stood up.

"I think I'm healed!" she cried in a clear strong voice.

Before the pastor could react, the woman walked over to the door, pulled it open, and started striding down the hospital corridor. The last thing the pastor heard before she disappeared were the words "Look at me, look at me. I'm healed," as she went by the nurses station.

The pastor pressed his mouth closed, got up, and slowly walked down the stairs and out to the parking lot. There was no sign of the former patient. He opened his car door and stopped. Looking up to the heavens, the pastor said firmly, "Please, Lord, don't ever do that to me again."

Have you prayed prayers like that? They're safe prayers. They give God a way out, an excuse, just in case the request is not in his will, and he doesn't come through.