from Pastor Ed Underwood's blog
December 1, 2013
How God Is Answering One of My Most Desperate Prayers

In my fiftieth year, I almost died. One simple prayer inundated the throne of grace as thousands of friends asked God to “please let Ed live and serve.” I tell about it in my book When God Breaks Your Heart. I believe that prayer saved my life that night.
I was so impressed with the power of that prayer that I began uttering other one-sentence prayers that expressed my earnest desires. Since the doctors told me I didn’t have long to live, I searched the Scriptures for ideas that came from the lips of great men and women of faith.
Psalm 90 was precious to me during the weeks that we were begging for my life. I couldn’t help crying every time I thought about my grandchildren growing up without me. There was so much i wanted to tell them, so many truths I had learned through a life of walking with Jesus. Psalm 90:16 captured my concern: “May your servants see your work! May their sons see your majesty!”
That was exactly what I wanted, so I crafted another one sentence prayer: Father, please give me influence in my grandchildren’s life. There was no medical evidence that I would live and I had no idea how God might answer. I just prayed it. And prayed it. And prayed it. I’ve prayed it every day of my life since those desperate weeks in 2000, and several times each day.
Last week was a snapshot of how God is answering that desperate prayer. This is a picture of my daughter Aimee’s children–Jackson, Megan, and Camryn. Camryn was born a few weeks after I almost died. Here they are, thirteen years later, at one of our favorite places on earth, Cannon Beach, Oregon. I travel to Cannon Beach every year to teach the Bible. These three moved to Oregon a few years after I prayed that prayer. We cried when they moved away from Southern California. Now we look forward to spending awesome Thanksgivings with them every year. We talk about their lives and spoil them without shame.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT DESPERATE PRAYERS THAT ARE PRECIOUS TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

Most of our prayers go unnoticed by the world and even by us. We ask for something, move on, and ask for some more stuff. But they’re never ignored by our God. And the more desperate they are, the more He wants us to make sure we know He’s listening
So, what are you asking for today? I recommend you state it in one-sentence and just keep praying it.

SO, here's my desperate one-sentence prayer for the month of december and until God answers it: LORD, PLEASE OPEN THE EYES AND HEART OF MY DAD SO THAT HE CAN SEE THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HIS LIFE AND HIS MINISTRY!! Thank You in advance for your answer to this prayer, Lord! In Jesus' name... AMEN!