The power of prayers.

By prayer and supplication...let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

A man [prepared] to open the first tavern in...town. The members of a local church were strongly opposed [and] began to pray that God would intervene. A few days before the tavern [opened], lighting hit the structure and it burned to the ground. The people of the church were surprised but pleased--until...the would-be tavern owner [sued] them. He contended that their prayers were responsible for the burning of the building. They denied the charge... At the [first] hearing, the judge wryly remarked, "At this point I don't know what my decision will be, but it seems that the tavern owner believes in the power of prayer and these church people don't."