Prayer

Prayer is a powerful and mysterious gift.  I will admit that I really don't understand prayer.  I don't understand how God can be sovereign, we can have free will, and yet prayer changes things.  It boggles my mind when I sit and think about it.  I don't understand why some prayers are answered and others seem to be ignored.  I don't know why Danny died when I pleaded with God to save him, and why others are saved from facing death at that moment.

However, the more I seek God, the more I realize that prayer is going to be a large part of my ministry here in Indonesia.  Praying for the workers here and that their work would be fruitful.  Praying that people are healed from physical and spiritual ailments.  Praying without ceasing for Indonesia.  Although I don't understand prayer I believe in what the Scriptures say and I cling to God's promises.

Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:7


The veil was torn in two so that we may approach the throne. Matthew 27:51


Many before us, like Abraham, never saw the promise but were obedient Hebrews 11


All things work for the good of those who love him! Romans 8:28


"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matt 21:22


And the list goes on and on.  I choose to cling to these passages.  I choose to believe that God hears our cries and that He answers.  It may not be the way I would do it, but he has good plans for us, so I trust him.  It may not even be in my lifetime, but He has shown Himself faithful.  I know that God answers prayer.  I know that during the dark times of my early adolescent years when I seriously considered suicide that my mother and a group of women were praying for me, so instead of finding death I found the One who gives eternal life.  I know that while the faithful were praying Peter escaped prison and death.  I know that through years of prayer someone dear to me has turned back to the Lord.  God hears our prayers. If you believe this will you join with me this week in praying for the nation of Indonesia, the nation with the largest population of Muslims?  Will you pray for people like my friend Ibu Ema and Ibu Emas who are living in darkness?  Will you pray for the workers that are here and that God would send more, because we know the harvest is plenty but the workers are few?  Let us have faith that God is going to move!