Jason and I attended a massive worship rally at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend, where we were able to work as prayer volunteers for a few hours. Many speakers, singers, and bands joined to host this free event with the focus of bringing people together in unity to have real relationships with Christ that would move them to share their hope with others. I was struck by the fact that so many gave up such large amounts of money and time to make this a reality. Other prayer volunteers in my group had flown from states all over the U.S. to participate. Jason and I had heard about the event on the radio and felt a pull right from the very beginning. As I began to pray over it and sense God calling us to have an active role, an excitement filled me.
Standing at the prayer booth, I watched as people passing by would redirect their footsteps to our area. Others would come with great intent searching out the prayer team. Statements such as, “I just feel like I should ask for prayer” would precede stories of recent difficulty or wandering away from God. One young man conveyed that he was walking toward his car but turned around in the parking lot because he couldn’t shake the feeling that he should ask for prayer.
What a privilege for me to be able to see God DRAWING people to Himself in such a real way! He led the organizers and workers to conduct this event from the resources He alone provided. After they prayed for God to call volunteers, He drew the volunteers to board planes or drive over and placed excitement in each heart. Volunteers were asked to pray for God to move among the crowd, and He faithfully responded by drawing young men and women to seek God’s guidance for their lives.
Unmistakably, this drawing did not take place because of the awesome speakers or praise music. Some heard the same words but had no response. Some were moved but will go home and work it out with their Heavenly Father by themselves. John 6:44 says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
I believe in the power of God to draw people to Himself. Sometimes, however, I become so discouraged in trying to reach people for Christ that I just give up. It seems easier for Christ to raise the dead than to turn the lives of some around. I can speak until I’m blue in the face, but to no avail. But you know what’s missing? PRAYER! The simplest act is often the hardest and most overlooked. My words are nothing without the power of prayer. Only God can turn my words into anything meaningful.
I know this as well as I know my own name and have probably even blogged about it, but here I am with a revived passion for praying that God draw people unto Himself.
Oh how we need people praying for each other! Jokes and smart comments about others’ views and beliefs are harmful. Words alone are ineffective. Separating ourselves from those different from us is tragic. Living out a good life in front of others and giving to the poor is required but not enough by itself. We must call their names to our perfect Father, who is the only One that can draw them unto Himself. Our power is completely dependent on Him.
The same is true for our families. When our children display undesirable behaviors or hard hearts, our training is useless if not backed by prayer. Our husbands and children should be taken to the Father as often as possible by us. As I watched children holding their parents hands while crossing the track, I wondered, “Who is praying for these children? Please, Lord, help parents to be moved to pray for their families.” Prayer is like the gold to our dollar bill. Our efforts are worth nothing without the underlying power of it.
Father, thank You for drawing people and for wanting us to be close to You. Thank You for the amazing gift of prayer. May I never underestimate the power of it in every aspect of life. Remind me to pray for those around me. Use me if You will in their lives, but help me to remember that nothing accomplished is because of my words or actions, but only because of Your goodness and faithfulness. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21