Information overload
Looking back over the month of May and all the news that flooded through to us via TV, radio, e-mail, news reports, papers, word of mouth – I had a sense of being overwhelmed that was so great it could well of completely deactivated me, for example:
• Syria: the 108 people killed in Houla
• North Mali: The two rebel groups that took over northern Mali now seek to form an alliance in order to create an Islamic State.
• Somalia: al-Shabab, justifies their fight as fighting against enemies of Islam.
• Algeria: Islamic Maghreb wants to overthrow the government and introduce an Islamic state.
• Italian earthquake – 2 large quakes followed by over 800 after shocks, leaving serious dame t property, 16 dead and over the 350 injured.
• Afghanistan: aid workers abducted in Badakhshan
How do we pray for all of this?
We are able to remain constantly in touch with news globally, regional, nationally – some of it true, some of it propaganda or mis-direction, some of it gossip. It is hard to discern how to handle all of this. We desperately need to cling to God and ask for wisdom so that we are not deactivated but are able to walk in step with God. We are called to reign in Christ Jesus – what does this look like?
1. Stand in the Gap: as priests we are called to intercede for those in need, for one another. It means to be so committed to someone / something that you are willing to put yourself up and in front in order to make a defence against the impending danger. It could also mean to take their place. Jesus demonstrated this on the cross and calls us to intercede for others.
2. Humble ourselves and pray: as a kingdom of people we are called to seek God in humility, to walk in holiness and intercede for our land, for people. Transformation and healing is the result. (2 Chronicles 7:14).
3. Occupy and take care of communities / our land: as people of God’s Kingdom and as priests we are called to engage actively in our societies, to live our lives as testimonies to God, to demonstrate God love, to bring healing and hope. (Deuteronomy 231 & Luke 19:13)
4. To stand true: with all the information and influences are around us we need to learn to stand true in the faith. (Luke 21:36).
Looking at the pain and suffering, the injustice and poverty, the fears and failures of our world gives us a sense of powerlessness which is hard to accept. It would be much easier to have clear projects in place to bring about healing and restoration.
Walking and praying in humility – recognising that we are not God and at the same time recognising that we are called to reign in Jesus. Our responsibility is to bring these issues to God, cry out against the injustice and respond by being light and salt to those around us.
As we share each week in the prayer requests and issues brought before us in this Prayer Focus, it is a great encouragement to know we stand together in solidarity before God. There are now over 600 us us receiving this focus.
Please do send through the issues on your heart and know that we stand with you.
Serving, praying and reigning together in Christ.
|