It's amazing really... - 26 Dec 2004
 They somehow found the manger and joined the shepherds worshiping. |
Glance at the 'Now Praying' box on the home page of this site and you'll see that no fewer than seven locations (and probably many more) operated 24-7 prayer rooms right through Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (erm - for all you US people, Boxing Day is an obscure European / Canadian thang - ed.)
Despite all the demands of family, and the pressures of commercialism, people in five countries around the world chose to take an hour or more through the night as well as the day, to be alone with Immanuel, and to wish him a happy birthday. |
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While most of us (let's be honest) were stuffing ourselves with turkey and chocolate, maybe feeling guilty that we hardly gave Jesus a second thought amidst all the wrapping paper at the weekend, these people suceeded in stripping Christmas back to the message of Christ. They somehow found the manger and joined the shepherds worshiping. | |
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people actually want to pray! |
One of the great and indisputable proofs that 'God is up to something' is surely simply the fact that people in at least seven locations in five countries want to pray so much they dont even stop for Christmas. Even Wallmart stops for Christmas! But not the people of God. |
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You can tell people they ought to pray. You can make them feel guilty about their lack of prayer. You can make them read books about prayer. But when people actually long to pray so much that they do it at 3 a.m. on Chrsitmas day, you can be pretty sure that God is up to something. Only the Spirit can make people so hungry for God. | |
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In many ways this prayer movement is already an answer to prayer just because it exists! We long for greater things, of course... for revival, for salvations, for social transformation, for healing and provision. But 'all these things' begin in prayer. They are added to us only as we |
'seek first the Kingdom of God' in passionate, persevering prayer. Such prayer echoes the very heart of Christ himself for it is he who 'lives to intercede for us' and it is his Spirit who 'prays in groans that words cannot express'.
Happy Christmas?