Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer

by S.B. Shaw

Whatever tends to encourage the praying habit, should be itself encouraged. A carefully selected collection of incidents, showing the beauty, power and success of prayer will in itself encourage further devotion. This book is just that type of collection. Every incident may not be completely scientifically accurate; scientific accuracy is impossible in gleaning matter from so many and varied sources. Yet the collection as a whole is both creditable and credible. It shows diligence and painstaking care on the part of the author, and illustrates unmistakably the efficacy and utility of true prayer. Let the book be widely read, and let us hope that every reader may receive an abundant blessing.

--from the Introduction to the book, James H. Potts

Nook

First published January 1, 1895

Reviews

[Stephanie Weisgerber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by all of the stories in this remarkable book, all of which are true accounts. The degree to which the saints used to humble themselves and pray was truly convicting. If only we could seek the Mercy Seat and boldly make our petitions to the Lord in like manner, we would undoubtedly see the miraculous fruit in our lives. Highest Recommendation made for every believer to read this book.

[Matthew Weathers]

I started reading this just for the novelty of reading something sort of obscure from the 1890's. It's a collection of unrelated stories about how God answered the prayers. I read it not so much for the stories themselves, but for the tone of writing, to see their assumptions and beliefs. Some of the stories have the feel of urban legends: "I have it on good authority, that this one preacher said,..." etc. And some of the incidents seem to have been chosen for maximal emotional impact. Usually the protagonists are faithful, praying women, or poor, sick children.

A representative example: on page 34 we read about this poor, dear child whose mother had died and whose father forced him to steal for a living. He's found hiding in an abandoned, dark tenement house. He had decided to stop stealing food because he had heard "thou shalt not steal" at a mission school, and was hiding from his father who would beat him if he didn't steal. He says "'Thank you sit; but please, sir, would you like to hear me sing a little hymn?' Bruised, battered forlorn, friendless, motherless, hiding away from an infuriated father, he had a little hymn to sing." I can imagine matronly Christian women reading this with tears in their eyes - the poor little dear!

And if that weren't heart-wrenching enough, here's the end of that story: The benefactor goes away to find a place for this poor fellow to say: "The gentleman went away, came back again in less than two hours, and climbed the ladder. There were the chips, and there was the little boy with one hand by his side, and the other tucked in his bosom, underneath the little ragged shirt -- dead."

So yes, it's easy to make fun of some of the stories. But if you are a person who believes God can and does actually heal people, like I do, then you'll find some of the stories living up to the title.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing was sugar coated in those days.

It is a book from my collection of old books and it is dated May 11, 1895. 128 pages of mostly sadness, but also deliberate and unflappable faith. Death of children is too much to take. Hunger and extreme poverty. The last poem almost broke me. I told my friend that these stories were so sad. She replied with: Yes, I can only imagine. But I guess the point is that God is present even in the most difficult of circumstances.

So, it was a good read because we think times are difficult now... No they are not.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who needs a little encouragement. I love the stories!