Please pray…
Please pray for our prayers.
Pray for those whom our prayers are for.
Pray for continued prayer.
Pray for revival.
Pray with authority, in Jesus name, that fear would be cast out of this place.
Pray, in Jesus name, that Satan be cast out of this place.
Pray that these people see redemption.
Pray that they see a redemption bigger and greater than their understanding of a better life here on earth.
Pray that they receive Jesus Christ.
So far our ministry here in Costa Rica has been praying over anyone and everyone. We’ve found ourselves in some amazing places praying over some amazing people. We spend a lot of time in a “Correctional/Rehabilitation” center full of women with a terrible past. (I can’t go into too much more detail, but ask me in a private message/e-mail and I can tell you some amazing stories of where we really are in that facility.) We’ve prayed over them and seen the Holy Spirit at work in their hearts!
Outside of the facility there is no shortage of opportunities to pray over perfect strangers and love them like a brother or sister. I will tell you of three quick moments I’ve had that have been heavy on my heart and were opportunities brought before us by God.
First:
Pray for Jonah. Jonah is a man a couple of us met in San Jose during one of our “off days” we took to explore the city. He came up to us asking for money for food. He is a homeless drug addict who wanders around to keep from coming down from the high or going through withdrawals. Now, this is very normal everywhere you go in San Jose and generally the proper response is not necessarily to give them money. We asked more about what he needed and if we could pray for him. He said that he wanted prayer…
…But he clearly didn’t want us to pray over him right then and there because he was ashamed. Ashamed. He knew that his lifestyle was destroying him and not pleasing in God’s sight. But what he DIDN’T know is that God isn’t bound by ANYTHING Jonah has done or is doing! God wants Jonah’s humble and repentant heart. Unfortunately we didn’t have the opportunity to stay and talk to him about that. We had to part ways. But he said to pray for him when we are in church. So I need you all to partner with me in continually praying for Jonah and his healing and salvation.
Second:
This Morning (Sunday) we were at a church in the mountains south of San Jose. We spent the first half with the children and youth singing songs, playing games, and sharing about our ministry and why we’re here. We’d sing for them songs and teach them games, and then they’d do the same for us. It was full of Joy and laughter. But the most powerful moment we got to have with the children was when we asked them if any of them wanted to be missionaries. Surprisingly about 5-6 of them raised their hands. The Pastor’s wife explained to them what they were asking by choosing to commit their life to missions. She explained that it is very hard, and asks a lot (In fact everything) of anyone who seeks to leave there father and mother and take up their cross to follow Him. So we asked again if they would like to pursue missions someday and they all still raised their hands. So we gathered around them in the center of the room and prayed over them as they passionately received our prayers for them and the Lord’s blessing. Pray that these children understand what my team mate Jonathan said, “That the Holy Spirit in their hearts is not smaller than the Holy Spirit in ours. He’s the same and will work through them powerfully, even now.
Third:
Just a few hours prior to me writing this blog, and woman who apparently lives down the street from us came to our door. My teammate, Jonathan, answered it and came in saying, “Hey guys, there’s a woman at the door asking for money because her mother just died.” Again, we had a moment of, “I can’t give you money and send you on your way, BUT, I have Christ in me and will offer you that.” So we all poured out of our house and surrounded this teary eye’d woman and prayed over her and her family. She quietly sobbed and let us pray until we all were finished. Afterwards we let her know that if she needs more prayer or if there is any way that we can serve her, to come back to this house. We hugged her and parted ways. I don’t know her name. I have no idea if she knew this was the house to come to or not. I don’t care. The Holy Spirit guided her here regardless and hopefully will bring her back soon for another opportunity to pour into her. I need you all to pray for the loss this woman and her family has just experienced. They are hurting and don’t know where to turn. Pray that God provides and that she will know to come knocking on our door again for whatever help we can possibly offer.
This month’s ministry is a ministry of prayer. Prayer over the city. Prayer over the people. Prayer close enough to lay hands on people AND prayer so far away that there are nations between people.
You’re prayers are just as powerful back in the states as mine are here. So don’t hesitate to pray. Don’t look to your spiritual maturity to pray “well enough” or your knowledge of the situation to hinder your prayers.
Folks, I have a group of high schoolers who I’ve made my own personal prayer warrior team back in the states. They’re all split up and yet have committed to coming together to pray for me, my team, Costa Rica, Jonah, etc. I will tell you the same thing I told them,
“Your prayers are powerful in Jesus’ Name! Whether you feel it or not, what you do there can have great effect on what happens over here. I want YOU praying for us.”
Thank you guys and keep checking in here as I’ll be posting pictures and more of what God is doing here in the near future.
God bless!
-Daniel
