“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
A few years ago, a ministry organization called, Vision Beyond Borders, asked me to write a song for a video documentary that they were doing for the street kids of Pakistan. I did not know about the street kids of Pakistan and if I was going to write a song in their honor, aiding with funding for an orphanage, then I wanted to know more about them. I started watching documentaries on the kids, and I was in shock as my heart wept at what I was seeing. There are over 1.5 million street kids in Pakistan alone. I continued searching to only find out there is over 11 million street kids in India and 2 million in Afghanistan. These are kids that do not have food, shelter, or an education. Kids that do not have moms or dads and kids who are not being poured into and raised, just surviving, and some not even that.
After watching the few documentaries, I sat and cried as I revised an old song called, People Pray. I remember saying to God, “what can we do?” He said, “pray.” Looking at a picture of a little boy sleeping on a side walk, tears streamed down my face, as I wrote a phrase in the song, “we raise our voices for the voiceless, hold them close to You.” I sang this line over and over again and asked for The Father to hold them, to love them, to help them. My heart broke for them, and all I could do was pray.
This week I felt the Father ask me to pray for the voiceless again. To be a people that humble themselves and pray. To pray for the nations, the children, the division, the anger, the fear, the governments, the heart breaks, and catastrophic events. Sometimes I honestly believe, what can my little prayers do; they seem so insignificant? How can my tears, and words honestly make a difference in this world?
“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” – Max Lucado
Instead of focusing on what our prayers can do, I believe this is a time to let our faith arise and trust in the God who answers. I believe God is speaking to all of us in this season to pray. Pray like you have never prayed before! God’s heart is for us, He wants His people to be freed, healed, and saved in His Name. This is a Nations Rising Up Season! This is the body of believers coming together in one accord lifting up the Holy Name of Jesus and we come Boldly! Hebrews 4:16 says, “ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
So, I boldly come to the throne of God today and say, “where the enemy has caused division, you bring unity, where the enemy thinks he has won, you hold the victory. When brothers and sisters fight over petty things and your children are sleeping in dumpsters, we humble ourselves and we pray in the mighty name of Jesus that through You, all things work for the good and these children will be rescued, healed and saved! We pray that a mighty army of believers is rising and ready to do your will! We pray that we know the authority that comes in our one prayer. We trust You for the greater things and pray you heal our land and the nation’s oh Mighty God! As my son Oliver prayed, “we do what you want Lord, we do what you say.” Amen!
Emily Rodewald 