Prayer is part of our ministry this month. Well, prayer is always part of our ministry…but never as structured as it is this month in Serbia. We are in the city of Vrnjacka Banja (near "Nis" on the map!) and our ministry contact is a pastor named Radovan. He begins every day in prayer and while we are here, part of our ministry is to join him. About ten of us meet every morning at 7:00 a.m. – all bundled up – in the 40 degree fahrenheit chapel (yikes!) to begin the day with the Lord. We read a passage of scripture together, discuss its meaning and application, and then begin a time of corporate prayer. Radovan says that we pray out loud so that when one person finishes their prayer, the others can say “Amen”! So, we all take turns praying until there are no more prayers being lifted up. We usually end around 9:00 a.m. It is powerful and it has become one of our favorite aspects of this ministry month so far. We are learning discipline and we are learning to pray consistently, boldly, and with great faith.
We pray big prayers for the global church, for Serbia’s economic and political issues, for a unified church within Serbia, for the many people here struggling with alcohol and drug addictions, for pastor Radovan’s church and the ministries within it, for the Serbians and Gypsies we meet in nearby communities, and for the youth in Serbia to rise up and serve the Lord.
Why such big, bold and seemingly generic and abstract prayers?
As a team we were challenged with the following question in a podcast we listened to the other night called “Bold Prayer”:
“If God answered “yes” to everything I prayed last week, what would the world look like today?”
It makes me think…am I praying big prayers that – with God’s response – would actually change the world…or would the world not look much different because of my prayers? The speaker asserted that if we are going to see the world change, we are going to have to pray some bold prayers. He went on to say that what we pray for and how we pray reflects what we believe about God. I agree. And I am challenged. I sometimes pray for big things, I sometimes remember to pray for them a few days in a row, and I sometimes pray them with a confident hope. My prayer life does reflect what I believe about God – and the truth is – I have a lot of growing to do in my faith.
I have found so much joy, peace, hope, strength and encouragement in praying each morning here in Serbia. I pray for the things I mentioned above and I also pray for my team and for my family and friends at home. Know that I am praying for those things that you share with me…and know that I am praying boldly! We end each prayer session with The Lord’s Prayer…prayed in unison in Serbian and English.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever,
Amen.
