Prayer works....

Several events over the past few weeks leave no doubt in my mind how true that is. I've already told you about God providing me with a new car, but today (or last night, rather) something happened that me and several other folks have been praying about for many, many weeks.

Let me back up a minute...

Since sometime in May (I don't remember exactly when) I've been involved with a group of people who go out every Wednesday night to minister to the homeless. It has been an incredible experience!!!! I have learned so much...I don't care who you are, or where you've come from, everyone just wants to be acknowledged and loved. I've never seen that as clearly as I do now. I'm privileged to be able to go out and love on these forgotten people. Regardless of what circumstances have put them on the street, they still long to be accepted and loved, and we try to do that as well as meet their immediate needs with food and clothing. We're beginning to see a real impact in some of our "regulars" lives. Our desire is not just to bring them a sandwich and t-shirt, but to really impact their lives by sharing the love of Christ with them and helping them get off the street if they so desire.

In the past 2 months, our ministry group has grown from 8 people to 22! God is awesome! It is amazing to be in a group of people from all types of backgrounds and churches - God is really doing a work in unifying His body.

Anyway, not only do we minister to those we see on the streets, as we're driving around we also pray over our city - that the leadership would be led by God and that the light of God's truth would shine on any place where evil dwells. One such place we stop at each week is an adult bookstore. We would stop across the street from it and pray that God would shut it down using whatever means necessary, that the owners would come to know Christ and that those bound by lust and pornography would be set free and their lives would be changed. We also would talk to the security guard stationed outside - to give him water and food and to let him know we were praying for God to provide him with another job. So today, we find out that the bookstore has been shut down!!! The police raided it last night, and arrested an employee. Praise God!!!

The bookstore has been in operation for a long time - even after it became illegal to sell sex toys. The police department said in the paper that they've been after the place for years...funny how now, all of a sudden, they're doing something about it. That's what prayer will do - put things into motion and change what needs to be changed. I'm telling you, folks, if God's people really believed that prayer works (like it obviously does) we could turn this world on it's ear!

I'm reminded of a scripture:

"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

We can make a difference...prayer works!