The Power of Prayer...

If My people who are called by My name

humble themselves, and pray and seek

My face and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven and will

forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

This is Warner. We met him in the park today just before we headed out to do surveys and prayer walking in Bryan's neighborhood. Warner is a believer and friend of the guys and he comes out to the park each morning to meet with God. He did not know I was taking his picture, but when I turned around and saw him kneeling before the Holy God, I just had to capture the moment. Today was a day that was filled with lessons about the power, importance, and promise of prayer.

After we dispersed, we headed out to do some prayer walking for about an hour. We spend the first hour or two every morning just walking the streets that we shared with the day before. Praying over the houses and hearts in each home and praying that barriers (language, religions, telephones, pride, etc.) will be broken down and hearts will hear the truth of God's Word and turn from their sin and humble themselves at the feet of the Savior and cry out "Abba, Father!" I have a new found love in prayer walking....!

Then, it was time to do surveys! Knocking on doors is not my favorite thing to do, but we are here to serve and do it with a smile on our faces. So we knock on one particular door and a hispanic man answered. He told us that he was not doing well because his wife is sick and just finished some chemo. So not only was language a barrier, but he also said to us, "I was born Catholic and I will die Catholic." Feeling that the Spirit was not pushing us to share the gospel with this man, we asked if we could say a prayer of blessing and peace for him and he agreed. Timbro prayed a sweet, spirit-filled, God-exalting prayer for this man and his wife and healing for her and blessing and peace and comfort for him and when we finished praying, the man said to us, "I just hope He heard you." Timbo and I both immediately jumped in and assured the man that we have faith that He heard our prayers and that we can trust that because He is our Advocate and best friend. There is no hope, there is faith!

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that

you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have

an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 2:1

The last reminder about prayer that I had today was from my dear roommate of 409, Jacque, when I was telling her about the man above. She encouraged me in the fact that Jesus Christ Himself is our intercessor! We can boldy approach the throne of Christ and voice our petitions and trust that not only does He hear us, but He cries out on our behalf to the Father. WOW! Paul tells us that the Son "interceeds for us with groanings too deep for words. (Rom 8:26)" How incredible is that?! Not only does He pray and interceed for us, but He does it with so much passion that there are NO WORDS! Let us never underestimate the power of prayer, friends. We serve an amazing and BIG God! God is soo good..... :)