Praying bigger prayers for the world

“When a church allows God’s presence and activity to be expressed,

a watching world will be drawn to Him.”

-- Henry T. Blackaby

and Claude V. King

Lately, I’ve prayed for more people I’ve never met than I recall

ever doing before.

Last Sunday was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted

Church. I attended different churches and services and was humbled by

what I heard and for whom I prayed, with others and by myself. We

offered prayers for and with those around the world who suffer

serious persecution for their faith in God.

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church began

seven years ago with 7,000 committed churches, and is now the largest

day of prayer of its kind. I heard the needs and situations of people

who met secretly in Saudi Arabia, others who hid in house churches in

Vietnam, as well as those who gathered openly in New Zealand and the

desert tents of Sudan to pray for those who suffer persecution.

I read of prayers offered last year on the International Day of

Prayer for a man named Ayub in Pakistan who was on death row because

of his faith in Jesus. Since then, Ayub has been released from death

row, something seemingly impossible. This is something that only God

could orchestrate.

I read that story and cried. I cried out of excitement for the

good news, and I cried that the same God of love and power loves and

cares about every little detail of my life. I’ve felt like I’ve let

God down lately, and yet when I spend time quietly trying to listen

to him, I hear him call me one of his beloved children.

I cried because I am so prone to limit my personal prayers to my

personal issues, my personal needs and my personal country. But

lately I have been challenged to think and pray much bigger prayers,

prayers for other people I’ve never met and other nations I may never

visit.

I’ve been and will continue to be excited to see or read about the

answers. I know that prayer changes things, and I know that prayer

changes me. I also know that God wants me to pray much larger and I

know that God is anxious to make more changes in me.

I’ve taken for granted the privilege and freedom we have in this

country to pray together openly whenever we want. We can say grace

with heads bowed in a restaurant or hold hands in prayer while

gathered in a church.

I will continue to pray about the big and little details of my

life, but I’m adding prayers for those who also love God, but don’t

have the freedom of expression that we have in the United States.

It’s exciting to watch God at work, and I’m praying and trying to do

a better job joining him.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

[email protected] or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.