While
Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico and Irma devastated several Caribbean
Islands, as well as the Florida keys, upstate New York is enjoying a beautiful
late summer day. During this terrible onslaught of natural disasters, my
prayers have been focused on lessening the impact of these storms, earthquakes,
fires, floods and hurricane victims, but today I turned my heart more towards
home. I decided to go on a prayer walk. Instead of just strolling around the
neighborhood, somewhat of a ghost town during the day, I decided to do a pray
bike ride rather than my usual prayer walk. Essentially the two are the same
from a spiritual perspective, but I was able to cover more territory and pray
for those I haven’t passed by their houses in months.
I usually begin with a general prayer asking for protection for our neighbor hood, town
and environs, yet in light of all that is going on in the world; I focused more
on praying for neighbor’s salvation. We indeed are living in perilous times, and
people’s souls are hanging in the balance between life and death. As I passed
by neighbors I know, I prayed for particular situations I was aware of: comfort
from death of a loved one, that they might know the love and comfort of God,
prayer for removal of deception for those seeking spiritual enlightenment
outside Christ, prayer for those who know Him to know Him better and spread the
light and prayer for those who only heard of Him. I said their name and prayed
for them to know the power of His love, mercy and salvation.
As I pass
neighbors who I forget their names, more common these days, I pray for the Lord
to show me how I can reach them, to get to know them. I’ve asked the Lord for
creative ideas, like baking cookies but I want a fresh vision of what to do, so
I prayed for Him to give me ideas. If I don’t know the neighbors at all, I pray
that God would bring people into their lives that do know Him and would share
the good news of redemption and salvation, freedom from the bondage of sin. As
I know several struggle with addictions, I prayed for release from this
bondage, which is no easy task. (On returning home, I received a text from a
friend who’s husband is going
through this. Today he went into rehab, but they can only keep him for
five days, unless the insurance covers a four week program. We prayed that it
will be covered and extend it even further.)
Riding by homes
who I know have children, I hope they would be open to the gospel and have opportunities
to hear the good news. I prayed they would hear about Jesus in Sunday school or
maybe from a friend, perhaps a teacher, or reading a book or seeing a movie. I
prayed for the adults in their lives, that someone would be able to show them the
love of Christ. I also prayed for the churches in the community that they would grow and be beacons of light to those who need to know The Light of the World.
On my return
home, I was thankful the Lord had protected our small community, but my heart
still goes out to the many who do not know Him. I pray God will use me more, and I
will shed the light of Jesus Christ to friend and foe where I may go.
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