Tag Archives: pray

Muslims in Europe Coming to Christ Daily

Your Prayers can Change History

Defining moments come our way seldom, but today we have the opportunity to change history through prayer. About 2 million Islamic refugees have fled to Europe within the last year. While governments are reeling with the challenges of integration and resettlement Christians are reaping a harvest for the Master. Because they have been in countries that are virtual prisons, ruled by fanatical Islamists who believe they can force people under threat of death to follow Muhammed, the new freedoms they are finding in Europe are allowing them to make choices for themselves, and they are departing Islam in droves.

Our brethren across Europe are befriending them, telling them the lies they have been taught since birth about Christians hating them are not true. Churches are hosting them for meals and informational gatherings where the refugees are hearing the gospel for the first time and many are responding. In Greece, they are averaging one new convert every single day and in Austria, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, Christians are meeting them in parks and market squares and telling them about Jesus.

Never before have we had this opportunity. Never in history has there been such an opportunity to teach the Islamic world about the Christ. If we can mobilize every church that belongs to the Lord to pray for conversion of these Islamic refugees and support our European brethren through prayer, we can contribute directly to the saving of thousands and demise of the threat of Islam. Will you pray daily? I ask those who lead us in public prayer in our churches to never forget to ask God for guidance as we do His will in this matter. Pray, Pray, Pray!

Bill McDonough

Dear Lord, Please Protect Us….

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I was praying with my youngest the other night when right in the middle of the prayer, I stopped. My mind had drifted to the news I had just watched a few minutes earlier.

Tornadoes had ravaged Kentucky and much of the south that evening. There was talk of towns being demolished. The death toll was still undetermined but it was clear that some, if not many, had lost their lives and their loved ones. We had hunkered down only hours before due to the tumultuous weather.

I thought of other times when I hadn’t exactly felt God’s protection. Deaths, divorces, and acts of wickedness have stopped me in my tracks. I remembered questioning where God was and how he could ever let such atrocities happen.

My daughter’s blue eyes searched mine and I wondered if the words I had spoken over the years have been setting her up to doubt. Because pain will come. Tragedy will strike. Evil will have its moments and even its days.

Broken hearts and broken roads will be common, but in all of them, I never want her or any of my children to ever think that God has turned his back.

I don’t want them to assume that he doesn’t love them because he didn’t keep them from every hurt and every difficult moment. I want them to know that regardless of what this life brings, God cares and is no stranger to heartache.

He was there when Cain killed Abel. He saw what it did to Adam and Eve.

He watched Joseph’s brothers throw him in the pit and saw Jacob mourn.

He knew Job’s suffering.

He was too familiar with Mary’s.

He watched the Christians of the first century tortured and murdered in despicable way and he’s seen us on our knees, as well.

Our love for God should never depend on him keeping us from the woes of this world. And although God can work all things out for good (Romans 8:28), God isn’t behind all things. Evil strikes because evil exists.

We may never understand the whys and how comes, but we must trust the one who will have the final say. He is our love, our strength, and our protection even when we can’t feel it, bear it, or see it.

So, I took a deep breath and chose my words more wisely:

Dear Lord, Please protect us and watch over us as we go about this life but even if bad times come and break our hearts, please give us the strength not to leave you, not to turn our backs on your, and not to blame you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Paula Harrington @ www.forthright.net

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective

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A royal couple marry. A terrorist mastermind dies by the sword. Floods and storms take lives and leave destruction behind. Some of us are affected directly by such events. Others watch or read about them from afar.

Headlines register the big happenings that supposedly affect or interest the greatest number of people. The big news sources tell stories that make the greatest difference in the quality of life, the security of our possessions, or the promise of a future for our children.

But seldom heard and almost never headlined are some of the most powerful influences in the world.

These influences often occur in dark corners, or sometimes in small groups, where television cameras do not go, where reporters never think to investigate.

You’ll not hear about these influences in doctors’ offices or down at the local cafe.

You’ll not see children pointing at them on the street nor read about them as the subject of the pundits and commentators.

Some people sleep while these influences are at work, others yawn, while many daydream.

They are not traded on Wall Street, nor are they the coin of nations, or the pursuit of tyrants and politicians.

What are these influences that never make the headlines?

The prayers of the righteous.

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5: 16b ISV).

In heaven, such a prayer is a headline event.

—J. Randal Matheny @ www.forthright.net

Is failing to pray a sin?

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All those who behave wickedly do not understand – those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the Lord. Psalm 14:4 NET

We think of failing to prayer, of calling out to the Lord, as an oversight. A slip-up. One of those items we didn’t check off our list. Important, sure, but like a lot of other things we didn’t get around to doing today.

But tomorrow we’ll make time for it. So we tell ourselves. So we lie to ourselves. So we justify ourselves to God.

The Lord looks down from heaven to see if anyone is seeking him. How he must be disappointed over and over again!

To God, not praying is part of the extreme evil of his people. None righteous. They rip off their fellow Christians. They’re practical atheists. They don’t even pray! (Read verse 1-3.)

Failure to pray is evil, for without prayer we attempt to do things on our own power.

Without prayer, we seek our own way.

Without prayer, we are the gods of our own lives, the very idols we have set up to worship.

Without prayer, we attempt the change we want to see in ourselves and our world.

Without prayer, we are lost, weak, without direction, without power, without understanding.

Without prayer, we are evil to the core.

What’s your prayer today?

–J. Randal Matheny @ www.forthright.net