We have recently instituted a new corporate prayer meeting. The second Monday of every month, we have committed to gather, fast the evening meal and pray together. If you would like to be included, please send me an email address or write to cvi@cristovive.net. This month, Gene asked Noele and I to write the prayer points. The following is a testimony from our activity last Saturday, the 4th of September, and the theme for the prayer meeting this month.
*****We would like to remind everyone to continuously be praying for our campers. We have seen proof of the spiritual battles they encounter; we have seen how they weep when we pray for them in the camps. They are susceptible to so many different types of evil forces and most are not able to battle with Satan by themselves. This is our responsibility. The Lord has put them in our lives and given us glimpses into their struggles. They need to be covered with our prayers for protection, for healing, for anointing, and for strength. We all know that prayer moves the heart of Our Father. We do not need to be present with them for our prayers to be efficient.
We (Noele and Kristin) were reminded of this necessity on Saturday during our Discipleship day in Guayaquil. When I (Kristin) first met Flor, I was struck instantly with an impression that we needed to pray and fast on her behalf, for her healing, spiritual freedom, peace and salvation. I believe the Lord answered those prayers and allowed us to witness the results of these prayers. If you ask Flor where Jesus is, she immediately points to the sky and then to her heart. No one, as far as I know, has taught her that, save for the lessons she has learned at camp and through the visits to the orphanage.
Saturday, while talking about giving thanks to God for all of our needs (including family), Flor became uncontrollably angry and self-destructive, screaming, lashing out, and crying. For about an hour, we interceded on her behalf, fighting both physically and spiritually. It was exhausting, and, to tell you the truth, I wasn’t prepared. I had become complacent and content with what God had done, forgetting for a time, that the battle is not over!! While praying, I had a thought that maybe she had been sexually abused. When we had ceased praying for a few minutes, all three of the other women who were praying for her asked me about her caregivers and said that they think she has been abused sexually. We prayed for her to be able to forgive anyone who has hurt her, to forgive her family for abandoning her, and to begin to heal emotionally.
During camps in Ecuador, the leadership takes time to pray for each camper and counselor. Inevitably, the Spirit of God moves, ministering to the pain in their hearts. I cannot describe the looks on their faces, when, with tears streaming down their cheeks, they cry out to the Lord to help them to release bitterness and to live with joy despite being trapped inside a body that won’t allow them to express their desires, and fulfill their dreams. One camper, Erwin, who is about 30 years old, has shared with me that he wants to be a pastor. The trouble is, unless you spend time with him, you can barely understand what he says, because he has severe Cerebral Palsy. He has a beautiful smile and expressive eyes which seem to plead with me to understand, and to help somehow!! I know that in heaven, a strong, handsome, capable, young Ecuadorian man is going to come up to me and with confidence and clarity and recite messages upon messages with which he could have encouraged the masses. However, it is my desire, and I believe God’s as well, that he live this life with purpose, with joy, knowing that he too, is here for a reason, whether or not he can speak clearly.
Let’s take time to pray for our campers. (2 Corinthians 4:1-8) Please pray for the freedom of Christ to be revealed in their lives. (Galatians 5:1)
We were also recently encouraged and reminded that the Lord has sent us out with a purpose, and that He has given us His blessing as well a promise that He will provide for us. Our work is not in vain and we are learning to rely on Him for helping us to further His kingdom and share His love. (Mark 6:7-13, Acts 13:2,3) *********
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