I never thought that the destruction of Sodom and G0morrah could have been avoided if only...
If only Abraham had dared to 'reduce' the number a little more!!! If he had climbed the mountain of humility a little more...
This is an interesting reflexion on today's readings from mycatholic.com:
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for July 29, 2007
PRAYER-MOUNTAIN
"Lord, teach us to pray." –Luke 11:1
When the Lord visited Abraham, He stayed behind to give Abraham an opportunity to intercede for Sodom and Gomorrah (Gn 18:22). Abraham quit just before His prayers would have saved the cities from destruction. Like Abraham, we have not persevered in prayer for cities, world leaders (1 Tm 2:1-2), and international affairs. God has looked in vain for someone to stand in the breach (Ez 22:30). Consequently, many cities and countries have been destroyed, not by God but from within.
Have we lost our faith in praying for world events? We need to pray in the power of the Spirit, not in our own limited strength. Jesus told us prayer moves mountains (Mt 17:20) and expels demons (Mt 17:21, NAB), but how many Christians really believe this and make intercession for world events a priority? We have lost confidence in prayer.
In the past century, Satan had gotten away with world wars, massive deaths through bombings, and two holocausts (the Third Reich and abortion). However, we have hope. Mary tried to rally the intercessors at Fatima. She prophesied that we would see the conversion of Russia, if we would intercede in faith. Also, we saw a tremendous prayer-victory in the nonviolent revolution in the Philippines. This is just the beginning if we can climb again, by faith, prayer-mountain.
PRAYER:
Father, teach me to pray like Your child should.
PROMISE:
"He canceled the bond that stood against us with all its claims, snatching it up and nailing it to the cross." –Col 2:14
PRAISE:
Praise You, risen Jesus! You prayed for peace and for Your cowering disciples, and they went forth and changed the world. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
2 comments:
Dear Alain Blaise N.
Thanks for the Blog on prayer! I want to turn your attention to something very Biblically similar, that, while lesser known, should be talked about, I believe....
When King Hezekiah gets ill in II Kings 20, he cries out to the Lord, and Isaiah almost instantly hears from the Lord that he will be healed. However, in the same chapter, when Hezekiah hears (after the envoys from Babylon came) that his country will be defeated and exiled, he concludes, (in essence) "okay, as long as it doesn't happen in my time". In II Chronicles this is even referred to as the Lord's "test" of Hezekiah.
This leads me to suggest that had Hezekiah interceded as swiftly and as passionately for his country as he did for himself when he was sick, the story might have been different. Once again, a failure to intercede may have cost the nation plenty...
Just a thought...
Grace to you, in the Lord Jesus Christ
Sincerely,
Pastor David MacKenzie
Regency Christian Church
Devon, Alberta.
www.regencychurch.com
www.prayermountain.ca
www.babiesbreath.ca
Dear Pastor MacKenzie,
Thanks for your thoughts as well.
Intercessory prayers are great, they are even much great when we have more faith.
God bless
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