I would like to share some things on my heart concerning prayer and its importance. In order for my readers to understand what prompted my thoughts, I need to give some background. So, here goes:
Not too long ago I read a dismal post written by someone working as a missionary to an orphanage. I'm not sure if the missionary's work is supported by the individual's church or not. Most of the missionaries I have met come from within a particular denomination and are supported by individuals within that denomination making commitments to give on a regular basis. I am unaware if this missionary has that sort of backing or if he/she simply saw the need and ventured out on his/her own to fight the good fight of faith and live out the scripture that tells us to take care of the widows and orphans. What I do know is this individual shares the needs of the orphanage through social media and requests financial support and prayer for them on a regular basis. I'm all for Christians doing the work of the Lord, spreading the gospel first by meeting the physical needs of those they are trying to reach. Jesus fed the people, meeting their physical needs. He was our example to meet not only the spiritual needs of the people but the physical needs as well.
In the post I read, the individual expressed the feeling of being overwhelmed and desiring to simply give up because of the pain of watching the physical needs not being met. He/she then asked for prayer. Many others have been in the same position. I have been there myself, seeing a need and desiring to meet it yet being unable to do so. Watching others suffer is difficult. In response to his/her pleas, other believers commented they were praying for him/her. Some of them added words of encouragement, asking him/her to consider all options before giving up. Then a particular person (someone who claims to be filled with the Holy Ghost) commented, attacking those who said they were praying. I literally got sick on my stomach as I read the vile comments filled with bitterness towards those offering prayer. This person was calling those who said they were praying FAKE Christians, claiming the individuals were praying but not doing ANYTHING!
I couldn't believe what I was reading! What right does anyone have to claim to know the heart of anyone supporting an individual through prayer? Firstly, the Word of God tells us not to let our right hand know what our left hand is doing. Just because this individual could not SEE what those Christians have done or are doing, doesn't mean they are not actively working to further the Kingdom of God. Sometimes, when God places a calling on your heart, it is difficult to separate your calling from that of others. Yes, we are all called to reach the lost, and yes, we are all called to take care of the widows and orphans, but while you may be led by God to financially support a particular orphanage, I may be called by God to financially and spiritually tend to a group of elderly couples, widows, and handicapped individuals---which happens to be the ministry the Lord has called my husband and myself to do. The fact that I am unable to (on top of what I already do) financially support the orphanage supported by the person who made the original post, does not make me a FAKE Christian, and it doesn't make any of the other individuals who commented they were praying for the missionary FAKE either. When Christians, such as myself, are already giving to other ministries, and they choose to respond to such a post with prayers, it should NEVER be treated as if they are doing NOTHING! Prayer is EVERYTHING!
Philippians 4:6, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests made known to God." Jesus is the one who leads and guides individuals to give (whether monetarily or through labor), and He moves on people through prayer! The prayer and the supplication is to be made known to God. Prayer is the most valuable tool at our disposal! Prayer moves mountains!
There are multiple examples in scripture of God moving through PRAYER.
I Samuel 1:11 tells us that Hannah prayed for a son, and God answered that prayer, giving her Samuel, one of the greatest prophets of all time.
Acts 12:5 shows us that Peter was in prison, and God used the PRAYERS of the church to perform a miraculous prison escape. The believers prayed. They didn't post money to bail him out. They didn't plot a prison escape plan. They prayed, and God used those prayers to shake the foundations and set Peter free.
II Kings 19:19 tells us that Jerusalem was under attack. Hezekiah prayed, and Jesus used those prayers to send angels to fight the battle!
George Muller started many orphanages, and from the onset, he set his mind and heart that he would never ask for money from anyone. When there was a need, he went to Jesus, and Jesus saw his faith and answered. There are so many testimonies of times when there was no money, no food, no milk to take care of the children, and when he faced those obstacles, he didn't stand out on the street corner and beg, he TRUSTED God! And God rewarded his trust.
What am I saying? Am I saying people can't share the ministry they do with others? No, I'm not saying that. Personally I like knowing what ministries are out there. Many people use that knowledge to allow God to speak to them about which ones He desires them to financially support. Am I saying that all Christians are responsible to do is pray? No, I'm not saying that either. As a Christian, I am to seek God to provide for me and any ministry He places on my heart to do. As a Christian, I am to listen to the voice of God and OBEY, and there may be times when He speaks to me to send money to a ministry or an individual. Faith without works is DEAD. But no one has the right to assume that because an individual offers prayers to another, that the one offering prayer doesn't DO anything else for the Kingdom of God. And NO ONE filled with the Holy Ghost should EVER judge or ridicule anyone for praying, especially since it is prayer that sets in motion the answers to the needs.
I John 5:14-15, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of Him."
So, why do we pray? What is the reason for our prayers? Prayer is what we are called to do. It is a weapon given to us by God. We fight the darkness in this world through prayer. We bring down strongholds through prayer. We move mountains through prayer. We lay hands on the sick, and they are healed through prayer, and through prayer food is multiplied. I have witnessed that one with my own eyes, watching food for about 50 people multiply to feed 100 and leave the family with leftovers to take home. When we saw the amount of people and the amount of food, we knew we had to believe God for a miracle, and He provided. God will always provide when we pray His will and believe Him. So for me to read multiple comments ridiculing believers for doing exactly what God calls us to do as believers, saddens me, and it worries me for the individual commenting with such bitterness over prayers being lifted up to God. There was a time when the disciples got angry and wanted to call down fire from heaven; Jesus told them they didn't know what spirit they were being influenced by at the time, and I have to wonder if this individual is being influenced by a similar spirit as the one that influenced the disciples in that scripture.
So, if you have been called to do a work for God, know that God desires you to go to Him with the needs, and He will provide them. He will move on the hearts of people. If you don't have the ability to give financially, but you have time to pray for ministries, know that your prayers are crucial and just as important as monetary giving. If you are a minister or missionary doing what God has called you to do, know that Jesus is right there with you, and He will provide everything that ministry needs.
Be Blessed and Be Made Whole,
Pinky
