Prayer and Continual Prayer

Yesterday's church service, 3-13-2011, was on prayer and the need for the church to do more of it. It was rather encouraging to see so many people from my grandmother's church go to the front of the sanctuary because they wanted to focus more on prayer.

My heart goes out to the people of Japan. If anyone needs prayer, it is them. So many deaths and homes without electricity and water, their lives are just turned upside down. I am so glad that many people have stepped up to aid them in the relief efforts, but for those of us who can't help physically, we can at least help prayerfully.

I am reminded about past and current times when prayer has been the only thing I could do. I would not be where I am today without the prayers of so many individuals. There have been many dark seasons of my soul where I could not do a thing. I was a mess. I remember times where I just had to ask God to help me in dealing with situations that I had no control of. I am in one of those places now. I need a job and I need God to come through on a long term direction for the future. And I believe He will. Why, because He always has and I know He always will.

An important element of prayer is faith. So where does my faith come from? Mostly from experience. I have trusted God with little things and He has answered. I have trusted Him with big things, like previous jobs, and He has provided. When I was so sad or lonely, He was there to comfort me.

But I realize that prayer is not always about presenting my needs to Him. It is about communication. It is the main way I can talk to Him. I can be thankful for all that He has given and done on my behalf and on behalf of those around me. Prayer is also a way that I can stand at intercession for someone else. Which brings me back to Japan.

Those poor people need intercession right now. They need those of us who call ourselves the church to come together in mind, heart, and spirit to offer up requests to God. There are not many Christians in Japan at all and I fear that it may even have several principalities within its borders. A principality has to do with spiritual regions which are controlled by certain dark spirits. Usually when we send missionaries over there, they come in direct contact with these spirits and let's just say these spirits don't like their regions to be intruded upon by Christians. I have firsthand experience in this matter but I will save that for another time.

My hope is that the Christians and other relief contributors are not impeded in their tasks. So please, continue to lift up your prayers for Japan. Prayer warriors are some of the most powerful in the world. What a mighty God we serve!