PRAYING INTO THE CHAOS by Mark Whited
One of the most well known stories of Jesus is about a man who was beaten, robbed and left in the ditch. The story was shocking to all who heard it because the hero was a Samaritan and not one of their own people.
This story has been foundational for disciples of Jesus to care for those who have been left in the ditches from being beaten up in a host of ways physically, emotionally, relationally or spiritually.
However necessary it is for Jesus followers to care for those who have been thrown into ditches, we have another responsibility that is often not pursued and is much harder.
Somebody(s) has to go upstream into the chaos…to go after the robbers! The Gospel of Jesus is GREATER than any selfishness or false religion or demonic activity that results in hordes of people being thrown into ditches. We have to pray for the hearts of those “robbers”!
For example: Rescuing and restoring those from human trafficking is a “Jesus thing”. But it is also a “Jesus thing” to target and work diligently to see many disciples making many disciples in those areas where trafficking is prevalent. With more people being freed by Jesus, there will be fewer wanting to enslave others to work on their farms or fewer having sex outside of marriage.
In the months leading up to ICOM 2016, I want to share stories and a vision of our going upstream into the chaos to pray in Jesus’ authority. Together, we can pray for greater moves of God and multiplication of disciples in these areas. This will result in fewer robbers and way fewer people left in the ditches.
I invite you, now, or as soon as possible, to simply stop and ask God:
1 – Help me lift my eyes from all the immediate stuff happening around me… to see afresh the power of your Gospel… which is greater than any human or spiritual power.
2 – Help me look above the frenzied activity of my work or mission… to look upstream with your eyes… to see what might be causing chaos or to see a more strategic investment of my time and energy… help me pray for Jesus’ greatness to be made known there and for the courage to obey any next steps.
Mark is the 2016 ICOM prayer chairman and is campus minister at the University of Evansville. His pray blog piece will be featured monthly during 2016.
