Prayer…when you think of the word what thoughts come to
mind? Prior to the World Race I
had never really taken a long hard look at prayer. It was something I knew I needed to do but it was also
something I struggled with. Back
in the US if someone asked me to pray for 4 hours straight I would have laughed
at them! Pray for 4 hours, are you
kidding me?!
Then God rocked my world in regards to prayer. When I arrived in New Zealand it became
apparent really quickly that God was going to use that month to prepare us for
what was to come on the Race. Our
ministry contact told us we would spend the morning at the Tauranga House of
Prayer from 8:00 am to Noon. The
first few days where tough for me.
I struggled staying awake and with remaining in God’s presence for 4
hours. By the end of the month,
the 4 hours flew by and it didn’t seem like enough time.
When my team got to Australia, we struggled with our
ministry. Everything we planned to
do was changed. We sought God for
his answer on what we should focus on and He told us to pray. So as a team, we set up a 24-hour
prayer schedule. One person would
be intentional about praying during all hours of the day and night. Once again I doubted and struggled with
it. I was used to praying from
8-noon, but to have to sacrifice sleep for prayer? God
provided and showed up as He always does.
When we arrived in the Philippines, one of the first things
that we were told is that this 
month our ministry contact wants us to do
24-hour prayer. Our team was so
excited because we have been feeling that God has made prayer one of our
ministries no matter where we go. Then
God confirmed the need for prayer by answering a huge prayer request.
Here’s the back-story.
When we arrived in Australia, our squad stayed for 2 nights in
Brisbane. We didn’t know anyone
there and could not afford to stay in a hotel so we started praying for God to
open doors. He did!! Our church in New Zealand knew a couple
in Brisbane, who opened their home to us.
While we were with them we found out they had been trying to have a baby
for a few years and had been unable to get pregnant. Before leaving our squad surrounded them and prayed that God
would provide them a child. It was
an intense time of prayer for us all.
Upon arriving to the Philippines, one of my squad mates got
an email from the couple in Brisbane with the news that they were
pregnant!! They had gotten
pregnant a week after we prayed for them!! God is good and He does answer prayers!!
During this month, I will be lifting you up during my time
in the Prayer Shack. If you
have anything specific you would like me to pray for, please email and let me
know.
God’s truth and words of encouragement hanging in the Prayer Shack!
