Prayer works

Last night we enjoyed a Night of Worship at Life Church. Its a monthly gathering of about 50-70 people who enjoy coming together for an extended time in God's presence.
I wanted to impress on everyone the idea that prayer gatherings do not have to be laborious with never ending lists of prayer and that worn out feeling at the end that you did your duty and you hoped something "stuck".

I suggested that our time be focused on worshipping God and as He impressed upon us things that were on His heart we would pray these out.

After a time of worship I sensed that we should pray for the people of Jamaica as Hurricane Dean was approaching the island of 3.5 million people. I had visited Jamaica and spent sometime there helping to establish a Bible School with Christ to the World.
I had not planned on praying for anything except our local body and for the needs of those in the group that night.

We prayed for Hurricane Dean to be redirected away from Jamaica and for no life to be lost.
Today it was wonderful to get up and see the reports that the storm took a turn and missed Jamaica leaving little damage and no loss of life reported.

God answered our prayer as it was mingled with the prayers of others who heard His call that night.

The question may arise, "if God did that why don't we just pray that He does away with every storm, and terrorist plot, sickness, and all poverty?" That would be amazing but it is not our call. We are directed to hear from God and pray those things He puts in our heart to bring back to Him.

I believe one of the reasons God answered our prayer was that we laid down our agenda and instead took up His cause.

Let's pray BIG prayers! Lets worship God and trust that He will guide even our prayers back to Him so that He can release His will in the earth.