Pray4Life: Faith to Pray
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20-21
The project had been axed. The team had worked precious evenings and weekends to meet deadlines and now some decision from 'on high' meant it was all for nothing. Sent on a training course, they sat in front of me, tired and disillusioned. Who wouldn't be? None of us likes wasted effort.
The same is true of prayer. If I am to spend time and energy praying that friends and colleagues will become spiritually alive, I need faith, even as small as a mustard seed: faith in our God who answers prayer, and trust that my prayers will make a difference. I need to know that this 'project' has approval from 'heavenly places' and is totally aligned with God's mission. I need to believe that my colleague is not beyond God's power to save.
So how are we to grow in faith? Firstly, by recognising that when we are praying for unbelievers to come to know Jesus as Lord we are praying completely in line with the will of our God who 'wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth' (1 Timothy 2:4). Peter echoes this when he says the Lord does not want anyone to perish, 'but everyone to come to repentance' (2 Peter 3:9). Secondly, we build our faith by recognising that there is no person who is beyond God's redeeming grace; if God can convert the murderous Saul of Tarsus, then he can save those for whom we are praying.
Throughout the Bible God seems to delight in bringing physical life in the form of a baby to couples where this seemed impossible - such as for Sarah and Abraham: 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' (Genesis 18:14), and for Elizabeth and Zechariah: 'For nothing is impossible with God.' (Luke 1:37). When it comes to birthing spiritual life, God is not limited by the seeming impossibility of the circumstances.
The Father rejoices over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7), and his work of bringing life from death is one project that will never be 'axed'. Be encouraged in your faith and join with us on the second prayer pathway, Pray4Life, so that there may be parties in heaven!
Beverley Shepherd
Links
From Monday 11 June, LICC is starting a new 40 day journey of prayer for work, this one focused on praying for unbelieving friends and colleagues. These prayer journeys for the workplace are part of a LICC initiative - PrayerWorks - which seeks to energise and equip Christians to pray creatively for transformation in their world of work, wherever that may be. Visit www.licc.org.uk/prayerworks for more about the project, prayer resources and to sign up for this journey.
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