coming on may 21, 2017 - praying for big things

There are many books about prayer, and there are books of prayers. This book is a book of prayers inspired by scripture. Having been challenged many years ago to learn how to pray for situations that were too big, too damaging, too vast for me to know how to pray, I felt I needed help and that God’s own words would be the best guide I could find. I have lived in a country that has undergone more than 20 years of a brutal civil war. I have friends who have lost loved ones in battle, from illness. who have been separated from their families for years, not knowing if their parents were dead or alive. I’ve seen bad leaders and great leaders, witnessed mass migrations of people and worked with refugees.  I have friends and loved ones who have died or are dying from cancer. How do we bring these very real problems into our prayers?
 
As I considered this question, verses of scripture seemed to jump out at me almost saying, “Pray me!” So, that is how the writing of this book began. It doesn’t cover everything, but it is a beginning, and I hope it will help to enrich and deepen your prayer life as it has mine.
 
In writing this book, I’ve had to confront the question: what is the purpose of prayer? Discussing with God the issues that are on our hearts when we watch the news or talk with people in distress, can draw us closer to God’s heart. That coming together helps us grow in that relationship with the triune God. Our awareness and engagement in the issues in our world also helps us recognize when these situations change. We see God’s hand at work, and we can give him praise.