What do you think of when you hear a train whistle? Did you know that it’s a thrilling sound that can change the world?
When we moved our teen and toddler from Houston to a very small country community, the house was in ghastly condition, requiring extensive cleaning and repairs. With our belongings held hostage by boxes, we worked hard to establish basic creature comforts such as toilets that flushed, running water and other critical needs.
The girls stayed with my parents while we ripped out flea-infested carpet and stripped and painted surfaces throughout the house, working to the point of exhaustion every day. Without the clutter of city lights, the moon and stars were breathtaking. But the nighttime noises! I thought I’d exchange the frantic sounds of the city for soft breezes that moved the trees to whisper praises to our Creator. But there was no poetic ecstasy, and there was no air conditioning.
With windows open, Tim and I crawled into bed every night with mind and muscle fainting from fatigue. Whippoorwills sang us to sleep, but not for long. Coyotes began howling, dozens of owls shouted, hundreds of frogs eerily chanted, thousands of crickets chirped, cicadas grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard—and the sound of a blaring train whistle sliced through the air every 20 minutes, day and night, with haunting regularity. I became a desperate woman.
After I finally dozed off about 2:30 a.m., the train whistle began screaming yet again. I became so annoyed I almost verbalized an expletive. But immediately, my temper was arrested as God spoke to my heart, “Connie, each time you hear that train whistle, ask Me for 5,000 souls—that they seek Me and follow My will for their lives.” Instantly my attitude changed, with the sound of the train whistle becoming one of inexpressible joy. I became disappointed if I heard only a few blasts. My children and many others have embraced this prayer inspiration as it has evolved over the years.
Lord, please raise up a generation dangerous in prayer.
Consider the sounds I’ve listed and talk to your kids about how they can become prayer inspirations:
- Whippoorwills singing
- Coyotes howling
- Owls hooting
- Frogs chanting
- Crickets chirping
- Cicadas singing
- Train whistle blaring
The prayer inspiration doesn’t have to be associated with the animal, as prayer is not typically associated with a train. But perhaps owls might trigger a prayer for wisdom for your family.
Years have passed, and we have moved, so I now use the train whistle as my text tone. How can you use your text tone to trigger a specific prayer for your family or for the nations? {eoa}
Connie Norris’ passion is to mobilize women and children to pray. Please visit her website, “My Home, a House of Prayer for All Nations” myhomeahouseofprayerforallnations.com or connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/conniepn.
This article originally appeared at just18summers.com.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett 
