“In China, when you look at a group of people, most likely no one has ever prayed for that person at any time of their life.”
Pray, pray, pray…I have never understood the power of prayer the way God revealed it to me this month.
Have you ever truly realized the power of prayer? Do you live like that one prayer can make a difference? Do you ever pray on a whim and give it very little thought? Do you forget to pray? Has God asked you to pray for someone and you didn’t?
This month, it was said to me, most people you see along the streets or in a car or anywhere you go, have never been prayed for by anyone at anytime. I couldn’t believe it. How many people have prayed for me since the day I was born? How many times have people prayed for me and I didn’t even know it? The answer: more than I can even think of, and more than I know.
Ups and downs, good and bad, easy and hard….all describe these past few weeks for me. God has been teaching me so much, but it hasn’t always been easy, I haven’t always responded right, and some times I have felt down. But God always has victory when we seek Him. He takes us through a process. I have learned and seen God’s faithfulness over and over.
Anyone who knows me, knows I hate going out in the cold, I don’t enjoy being cold at all in fact, so being the team in the coldest area this month, it was hard for me to get out of my sleeping bag and go outside. But God taught me a lot. He provided when I needed, didn’t give me more cold than I could handle, and always blessed me when I followed His leading to go out for the day. When I wanted to call home or talk to someone there about how I was feeling, I couldn’t; It forced me to go straight to God and to my team, to press into my team instead of the internet. God was my provider this month!
Coming into this country being told we couldn’t bring our journals, had to use code words for anything involving God or ministry, and wouldn’t be able to use internet or phone for communication outside of China while we were there gave me the impression that all officials everywhere watch everything you do. That did not prove to be true in our area. We were out in some smaller villages of China and when we arrived we were told to share Christ with people whenever possible, build relationships like we would anyone else, worship when God tells us to (even on a train), and journal whatever you want without code words. This was so encouraging. Parts of China are very strict and officials do watch everything you do, but a vast area of China is not as controlled. As we built relationships with those who spoke English and those who didn’t, I saw hope! God is working in this country of China.
“…pray without ceasing.”
*read about Colleen’s experience in China
