A Voice From the Tomb
A mother's prayers can have a lasting impact on her child's life, shaping their values, character, and spiritual development.
D.L. Moody shares a poignant story of a mother whose fervent prayers for her son left a lasting impact on his life, even after her death. Despite achieving worldly success, the son reflects on his mother's devotion and the unanswered prayers that lingered in his heart. The act of relocating her remains prompts a spiritual awakening, leading him to embrace Christianity. Moody emphasizes the profound influence of a mother's love and prayers, encouraging mothers to remain steadfast in their faith for their children.
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The other day I read of a mother who died, leaving her child alone and very poor. She used to pray earnestly for her boy, and left an impression upon his mind that she cared more for his soul than she cared for anything else in the world. He grew up to be a successful man in business, and became very well off. One day, not long ago, after his mother had been dead for twenty years, he thought he would remove her remains, and put her into his own lot in the cemetery, and put up a little monument to her memory. As he came to remove them and to lay them away the thought came to him, that while his mother was alive she had prayed for him, and he wondered why her prayers were not answered.
That very night the man was saved.
After his mother had been buried so long a time, the act of removing her body to another resting-place brought up all recollections of his childhood, and he became a Christian. O you mothers!
Sermon Outline
- The Power of a Mother's Prayer
- The Delayed Answer to Prayer
- The Turning Point in a Person's Life
- The role of memories in conversion
- The power of a mother's legacy
Key Quotes
“O you mothers!” — D.L. Moody
“While his mother was alive she had prayed for him, and he wondered why her prayers were not answered.” — D.L. Moody
“That very night the man was saved.” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- Pray earnestly for your children, and model a strong faith to help them develop a deep and lasting faith.
- Remember the importance of perseverance in prayer, even when answers seem delayed.
- Share stories of answered prayers and the impact of prayer on your own life to help your children understand the value of prayer.