Where have you been today, Jean?
By Roger Carswell
A Church pastor went to visit a bed-ridden, elderly member of the church? He made his way through to her room, knocked on her door, and entering asked the question, “Where have you been today, Jean?”
Though she had been lying in her bed for months, her reply was, “To the heart of Africa, South America and the Far East!” More radiance was on her face, than would normally be seen on the most tanned image of a returning holidaymaker.
But Jean had been on her daily travels, praying for Christian work and evangelism in far-flung parts of the world.
Last year Teresa Mendez went to be with the Lord. I had met her a few years ago at a conference at which I was speaking. It was known that, as a light sleeper, each day she brought before God the names, families and work of many Christians scattered all over the world. After her death, her prayer book with over 800 names of individuals (not including their families!) who were prayed for daily, was divided between a group of people who would continue to pray for them each day.
If we fail to pray, we have forgotten what it means to be a Christian, for a Christian is someone who has a relationship with God. We are commanded to pray, and are given instructions as to how to pray, but let us remember what a privileged and influential position I am in when I pray. There are times when I would like to “bend the ear” of our Prime Minister or Royal Family, but, understandably, they don’t want to listen to me! But my loving, caring heavenly Father does want to hear my petitions. He is attentive to my every whisper. What a huge honour that God invites me to speak to Him, and to do so boldly.
There are places in the world I would love to go and preach the gospel. I will probably never make it there. I read of the huge and neglected needs of countries like Kazakstan, Uzebekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgystan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Tajikistan, (countries my computer spell check does not even recognise!) all in just one small part of the world, and wonder what I can ever do to help them. Then the Lord of the harvest says, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers in His fields.” (Matthew 9 v. 37 & 38)
There are rulers of nations who are making huge mistakes, which affect the lives of millions. At times I feel like a bystander impotently watching as foolish leaders give their instructions that lead to disaster in so many ways for so many people. Then the Omnipotent Lord God, who rules over all says, “I urge you, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings, and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2 v. 2)
There are people I see and sometimes meet, as well as teeming masses in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas who need to know that Christ died for them and commands them to repent and believe, and I am concerned that they may never hear. Then the burden bearing God reminds me that Jeremiah was told to pray for the Babylonians, Moses prayed for his rebellious people, and that Paul prayed for his wayward fellow-countrymen, saying, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved”. (Jeremiah 29 v. 7, Numbers 11 v. 1 &2 and Romans 10 v 1)
There are missionaries serving Christ faithfully, miles from home and family, and I know how it hurts when I am away from my loved ones for just a few weeks. They want the Lord to bless and use their work. Perhaps they feel weary, and whilst longing to do a long-term work, may have to curtail their work because of family, health, relational or financial pressures, and I feel powerless to help. Then the God who is known for His lovingkindness points meto the Paul’s words: “You also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many” (2 Corinthians 1 v. 11). The verse has many people praying and many people thanking, because many people were blessed.
There are church situations where God is doing a great work and people are being saved, built up and sent out to reach others with the gospel. I would love to be part of them, and enjoy the blessing. In other situations, churches are struggling, squabbling or stagnating, and I feel I wish I knew what to do to help. There are pastors, evangelists and church leaders with whom I want to be involved, but time and energy are limited. Then the Head of the Church brings to mind the prayer prayed for a church long ago: “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the goodness of God.” (Ephesians 3 v. 16 – 19)
There are brothers and sisters in Christ, particularly in Communist and Islamic countries, who are suffering dire persecution for their faith in Christ. I know that persecutors sometimes have become believers, yet in my heart I hate them for doing what they are doing to people who love the same Lord Jesus whom I know and follow. Then the One who prayed for forgiveness for His executioners says, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5 v. 44)
I am not a lover of travel programmes, for when I see them, I feel I want to go everywhere, except where the Lord has put me at that particular moment! However in my prayers, I can, as it were, travel, but I may also impact the world. We know that the Lord intercedes for us, but we can pray for others, even if they never know of our prayers. To pray is not a devise to excuse me from going, doing and obeying. When Isaiah’s mouth was touched by the live coals of fire, the Lord commissioned him to go. A fire may burn in our hearts when we really pray, and the Lord will make it clear to us as to whether we should be going or staying. He has already spelt out that we are to pray, and as we do we can be certain that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5 v. 16).