Pastor’s Corner: “Making Waves”
Ephesians 6:18 (AMP) – 18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people. James 5:16 (AMP) – 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].
I remember when my son Isaiah was about ten years old and he discovered that he could make waves that would affect the entire pool. He would get inside of a floating inner tube and plant himself in one of the corners of the pool. He would then proceed to continuously push down on the inner tube in a consistent rhythm that would start to cause movement in the water. It didn’t do much at first, but when he persisted the waves started to grow large and expand over the entire pool. Eventually the whole pool was rocking and splashing with waves moving in different directions and crashing into each other causing water to splash over the sides of the pool. The pool looked as if it was in the middle of a violent storm! It would give Isaiah so much joy, that as small as he was, he could affect this large amount of water and everyone in it.
As Christians, this is the same kind of impact that we can have with our prayer life! Have you ever wondered if prayer really works? You’re praying about something and satan whispers to you: “This is a waste of time. Forget it! Who do you think you are? What do you think you’re doing? God isn’t listening. Don’t waste your time.” And there’s always this nagging sense inside of us that the world’s problems are too big, and we’re too small. But, this is exactly what the enemy wants you to think because he knows the impact of a praying church and he is terrified!
A wave of water can be small and it can also be massive. Either way, when it comes and hits the beach shore, it affects what it hits. The power with waves is that they continue to come in, one after another, making an impact on land.
There are waves of prayers that are coming. Wave of believers, waves of churches, waves of pastors and leaders, businesses, women, children, and more asking God to war for us against our enemy. Asking God to use our leaders for His purposes. Asking God to touch and change lives. One after another, prayers are coming, and like a powerful wave, our intercession will have an impact on our land.
Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you. Twenty times in the New Testament it says, “Ask.” It’s encouraging to know that the things out of our control are not out of God’s. We may not be able to change a situation, but we can pray, and God can change it. Not based on our selfish motives, but based upon His will and plan for salvation of the world and His Kingdom here on earth.
God is calling us to intercede individually and collectively to affect our world. Whether you are at home or work by yourself, with your family or at your church, make waves of prayer that will change your city, your leaders, your nation and the world. Like a wave, continually let your prayers enter in and touch the shores of leaders and lives. God is calling us to make some waves!
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV) – I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, Let us pray: Father, thank You for the power of prayer and we join in, making waves of intercession extending from Your people right now. According to Your Word, we also give thanks for our leaders. Help us to pray and give thanks each day for them. Guide them, instruct them and use them for Your mighty purpose and plans. According to Your Word, our prayers will have powerful results of quietness and peace, and most of all, people being saved and coming to know Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton