On a cold day in February 1982, I sensed the Lord calling me to prayer. So I prayed as I walked home from my job in Kingman, Arizona.
Later that evening, after putting my daughters to bed, I did a little channel surfing and settled on a Christian television station. Two rabbis in colorful robes told a story about a Russian Jewish man who was imprisoned as a spy for the United States and for activities as a dissident. He had been in prison for several years. After the program ended, I again sensed the Lord calling me to prayer.
As soon as I yielded, He spoke to my spirit and said, “I want you to pray for someone. I know you have trouble remembering names so I will just give you his first name.”
“Okay Lord, what is it?”
“An-a-to-ly.”
I repeated it several times until I felt I could remember this unusual name. “Lord, who is this?” I prayed.
“He is the man those rabbis spoke about who is in prison in Russia,” came the answer.
“How do I pray for him, Lord?”
“Pray for him like you do for the men and women you minister to in the county jail, except I want you to pray for him like a member of your family—daily.”
The leadings to prayer came very strong at times, often leaving me feeling like I was there with Anatoly in his cell. I felt his depression, the darkness of the oppression and, most of all, his sense of hopelessness. The fact that I ministered in the county jail kept me in an attitude of compassion. I prayed in praise and worship to our Lord and would sense a lifting of the heaviness and an impartation of joy and strength.
After a few months the Lord spoke to me again and said, “I want you to know Anatoly’s last name. It’s Sha-ran-sky.”
I prayed using his full name when coming boldly before the throne of grace with my petition for his needs. I used just his first name when praying for family.
As sand through an hour glass, the years rolled on.
One night in February 1986, I happened to be watching the evening news when a man was shown hurrying up a ramp onto an airplane. The announcer said, “Today Soviet dissident Anatoly Sharansky, after serving nine years in prison, has been granted freedom and flown to Israel.” I could not believe what I heard. Tears filled my eyes and the presence of the Lord was like a heavy blanket of comfort.
I thanked our Lord for the sharing of His heart’s desire and the privilege of praying for Anatoly. I related this experience to my wife and daughters to demonstrate how perseverance teaches wonderful truths. All prayers are answered. The most important aspect, though, is that it brings intimacy with our Heavenly Father. It builds a solid trust that prayers can change nations as well as people.
Three days later I found a newspaper account of Anatoly’s release. It read: “Early on a cold and windy morning, a Soviet official spoke to political prisoner Anatoly Sharansky and said, ‘Walk straight to freedom!’”
A man of deep moral courage and integrity, Sharansky smiled from ear to ear and took his first step in nine years as a free man.
Is something on your heart?
Six intercessors will pray for your request for 21 days.
