I have always had a difficult time with prayer. I struggle to find the right words and I often lose my train of thought somewhere in the middle. However, my biggest struggle has always been believing that God cares (and listens) when I pray for small everyday things. Sometimes I feel guilty praying for things I want (or things I think I need). Perhaps it is because I have seen so much pain and need in the world. I know that there are millions of people who desperately depend on God for their every need. Those are the prayers God listens to… right?
On the World Race God has shown me again and again that his blessings flow in abundance and he has a crazy way of answering our prayers when we are bold enough to ask. Actually, “ask” is not the best word…. he wants us to have enough faith to declare.. to pray with expectation, knowing that he is going to provide our needs (even if it is not in the way we are prepared for).
Last week on our day off, myself and nine squadmates left our hostel on an adventure to jump off the tallest bungee bridge in the world. Everything was organized – we had rental cars in place, we had a reservation for the following morning, and friends from our squad were meeting us at the bridge. We expected it to be a simple trip, yet we quickly learned otherwise.
When we arrived at our rental car office, we found it closed. The only contact number we had been given was ringing with no answer. We knew that the trains had already stopped running for the day – so there was no way for us to get back to the hostel. We were stuck … with our jump less than 12 hours away (and it would take 8 hours to drive there). We felt called to head toward the long haul bus station, although we were sure the ticket office was already closed. As we walked in we saw the bars down over the window. We did the only thing we could do, we prayed. Within two minutes a man approached us and handed us a business card for a private mini-bus company. At this point it was already after 8pm, but he was able to find two drivers willing to come pick us up and drive us through the night. Prayer #1 answered!
While we were waiting for our bus to arrive we decided to look for food, but we knew that it would be impossible to eat in the bus station on our World Race budget of $2.30 a day. Once again we prayed. We ask God to provide food (note: at this point we are the only people sitting in the bus station, with the exception of two security guards). Within minutes a man walked in and unlocked the gate on a food stand nearby. It was obvious that he was just running a final check before leaving for the night. Prince noticed our group and when he discovered that we were missionaries he invited us into his store and handed us all the leftover food. Prince also allowed each of us to select a drink from his cooler. I stood in disbelief. Had God really just provided free food and organic juice? Prayer #2 answered.
On Sunday, the day after returning from the Bungee Jump, Prince invited us to his church in Cape Town (about an hour from our hostel by train). We were planning to attended a worship night at Hillsong in Cape Town later that evening so it worked out well to stay in town during the few hours in-between services. However, we would have to eat lunch near the mall, which we knew would be expensive. Once again we stopped to pray, declaring that God would somehow multiple our money. During the service we were called up front and the pastor prayed a blessing over us. When the service ended, Prince asked us to step into the church office where we were handed an envelope filled with money (enough to double our food budget for the entire week). Prayer #3 answered.
The following week I met a group of 5 boys who were living on the street. They each had one set of clothes, one blanket for all of them to share, and they were all hungry. I spent time hanging out with them, but I wished I could do more. When I went to bed that night I prayed for God to provide extra money so that I could buy them a meal. The following day I was window shopping in a nearby beach town and I wandered into a cute clothing boutique. The owner greeted me and asked if I was looking for anything specific. I explained that I couldn’t buy anything, because I am a backpacking missionary, with limited money and limited space in my bag, but told her I loved her selection. We ended up talking for about 10 minutes about my journey thus far. Just as I was about to leave she stopped me and said “God brought you into my store to bless you”..and she handed me 50 Rand (around $8). She told me to use it to go call home (sorry mom, I used it to feed street kids instead). Prayer #4 answered.
These are just four examples of how God has answered our prayers in the past week. He has provided in crazy ways through unexpected strangers. When you pray do you expect God to work?
Be bold.. declare truth.
