jordanabina
This last weekend was a difficult one. It was the first time since we began meeting at Pilgrim Coffee House for these 24h1 prayer gatherings that I have felt opposition to what we’re doing. It wasn’t smooth sailing, and more than one person told me they needed to press hard into God’s presence. We had someone attend who wasn’t interested in pursuing Jesus. In addition, amid the prayer time, tragedy struck in the lives of a family here in Grenoble, who had participated in our prayer times in years past. On the weekend of their due date for their fourth child, beautiful Grace Conner died during labor. Two hours later, after visiting them in the hospital, I was back at Pilgrim asking God, why?
I felt cheated, tricked, broken, bruised, confused, and cut open. The heartbreak my friends felt was immense and more than I could imagine anyone having the strength to bear. Where are we to go when pain awaits us there? My mind swirled, and honesty poured out as I lamented and made my case known to the Lord. Angry tears were shed.
And in the center of that storm, I was comforted by a brother and sister who were already praying; their shift was before mine. They stayed with me, cried with me, and together we lifted up our hearts to Jesus to comfort and be with the family that had experienced such immense loss.
David came to mind, Habakkuk followed. I was reminded that Jesus had already told me trouble was coming. He told us that there would be times when we would be weak, terribly weak. He told us that in times of mourning, we would be comforted. And as I’ve reflected and continued to process the last few days’ events, the Holy Spirit has revealed another aspect of what God can and wants to do as we pray.
I believe God wants to use us as we gather to be watchmen on the tower, hearing and seeing before anyone else and responding in prayer. If the dream of non-stop 24/7 prayer had a purpose, surely one of them would be this. To see and hear and then respond in the moment. I believe and pray that God will continue to birth a heart for prayer in your heart, mine, and others so that we are always ready to turn to Jesus and pray.
Secondly, the comfort that comes through corporate and communal prayer is a gift from the heat of God. I couldn’t speak, but my friends could. I couldn’t remember God’s promises, but they could. And as they prayed over me, I remembered. I remembered that Jesus said I could run to Him to find rest for my soul. After voicing his displeasure with God, I remember that David turns not away from Him but to Him. Not because He thinks he has to, but because He remembers the faithfulness that God had already shown him.
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.
Psalm 13:1-6
Thank you for praying and making these 24h1 prayer gatherings a priority in your month. There is so much more to come, not just at these gatherings but in our everyday rhythms of prayer. I’m praying for more watchmen on the wall, more brothers and sisters who will take their position and pray. Would you pray for more people to join our efforts at Pilgrim and consider becoming someone who will invite others as well?
Jesus hears every prayer and as it says in Romans 8, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. God is at work. In our city, in each other, and in you. Please pray for our friends Daniel and Sara Conner as they mourn the loss of their baby girl.
May God bless you abundantly today and thank you for being a person of prayer.
Jordan
