LOOK AND LISTEN AND NOTICE GOD POWERFULLY AT WORK

I often hear people say that God doesn't work like He used to work. I see people trying to figure out how to live the Christian life in their own strength, and they get really frustrated. One of the many benefits of keeping up with what God is doing in other countries is that I am reminded that God is still powerfully working for those who are surrendered and dependent.

A ministry that I support in India started from scratch 40 years ago. They started in a state with almost no known Christians - just a handful of people out of millions. Within 40 years, there are now more Christians than any other religion. This growth was despite intense persecution, abuse and impossible conditions. This ministry now houses, feeds and educates thousands of orphans and abandoned kids, has nearly 1,000 students in a top notch college and runs a seminary and hundreds of outreaches in various communities. The ministry actively supports thousands of field workers and most of its college graduates and orphan home graduates go into some form of ministry. The ministry has high, American-style standards.

So, how have they done this? Obviously, there has been hard work, sacrifice, courage, and faith. Most of all, however, has been a ministry of prayer. Everything they do and every part of their daily lives is covered in prayer. Prayer is like breathing for them. There is no obstacle or difficulty that they can't face with prayer. Not quick prayer, but constant prayer, anguished, persevering prayer. Prayer in faith expecting God to work. In response, they see miracles, they see doors open, they see attacks dissipate. They are constantly praising God.

Through their ministry, millions (probably tens of millions) of people have come to Christ. The landscape of India and southeast Asia has been changed. They have gone from being the pariahs of society to welcomed and blessed. God's grace has abounded. And they started with nothing.

I see God work in that way in India and it reminds me that God can do the same thing again here. We don't have to accept retreat and defeat. We can pray and persevere and live by faith and see God work through us. He is always faithful, but He needs people to follow Him who are willing to live His way and pray in faith without ceasing. Will you be one of those people? Will I?