Table Of Contents:
While I was impressed with the stamina and diligence of the leaders as they went through fifty plus hours of intense Bible studies, what impressed me most was their prayers!
Each morning at the crack of dawn, they gathered together in the same little farm-house room and prayed. Their prayers were extremely simple but intense. There was none of the formal “Bible” language and long elaborate sentences that I was used to hearing at prayer meetings in “Christian” countries. They were simple poor people who were just talking to their Father. They did not “say prayers” but prayed with fervency.
A prayer meeting in a rural church in China
They pleaded for a sick person in their village who didn’t have money for medicine. They thanked God for their Bible teachers. They prayed for more training sessions. Though they faced many hardships, they repeatedly thanked God for their blessings.
Though they faced persecution and danger, they did not seem to be greatly troubled by them. They understood what Jesus had said “The servant is not greater than his Lord, if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). They knew that there was a price to pay as a Christian. And they also knew that God of all comfort would comfort them in all their tribulations (2Cor 1:3,4) They had not yet been corrupted by the false teachings of “soft Christianity” and the ‘health and wealth gospel.”
They prayed with expectancy. They had simple faith that believed that their Father would hear and answer their prayers. Many of their prayers were for the sick because illness was common among them and medical services were unavailable to them. There were many thanksgivings for God’s answers to their prayers for the sick. To me, they seemed to expect God to heal them – very much as we expect a Panadol or Aspirin tablet to heal us of our headaches. It was that simple to them!
As I listened to their simple prayers, I felt that I had learned to say nice sounding prayers that I did not really expect to be answered. I had learned how to say prayers but these Chinese brethren were simply talking to their Father, whom they expected would hear them and help them.
We had gone to teach them the Bible but they taught us the most important thing about Christianity, namely, a loving living relationship with God the Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ.
I remember the first time I saw the little purple flowers on the mountains in Tibet. They were soooo simply beautiful. And I thought, what a pity that no one but me may ever see these. And then I thought, maybe God makes beautiful things, not to make us happy, but for His own pleasure and because He just enjoys making and having beautiful creations.
This was about 4… Read More....
Dear Family and Friends,
As always, time goes by so quick. The spring semester flew by and now I am in the process of moving to a new city. After the whirlwind of activities over the last few months, I finally have a few minutes to catch my breath before summer camp starts so I thought I’d take a moment to update you on how He is working… Read More....
School has begun! I started teaching on Monday of this week. I am teaching in the English department of my school and am very excited to be working with my students. I have loved all my students from year one to now but because these kids are English majors their English is a little better so we can discuss more in-depth topics and get to know each other a little… Read More....
Latest Comments