“Above all, taking the Shield of Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
Ephesians 6:16-18
I know you pray for your family; however, please remember to pray for others in your workplace, your building, your block, your city, your state, the nation, and this world.
One New Year's Eve I made the mistake of praying only for my family, friends, and the people in “my building” prior to going to sleep. I gave special relevance to my building because there was a New Year's Eve party occurring in the building's lobby. When I woke up for church the next morning, the building next door had sustained a major fire. The street was cordoned off, and police patrol and news vehicles were everywhere. Two people died, and four others were injured, including children who would later die from severe burns. All because one lovelorn guy decided that he could not live without his already married girlfriend; a woman whose husband had traveled miles with plans to reconcile and reclaim his wife on New Year’s Day. So, Mr. Lovelorn went to a nearby gas station, bought gasoline, and poured it throughout his girlfriend’s family's apartment as they slept, igniting both himself and their escape path. This incident became the first story of the New Year, and was aired all over the nation. The next morning, all I could think about was, not that God had spared and protected "my building" from any damage; but that, if I had just taken a little extra time to pray for "my block" (there are only two buildings on my block), maybe God would have spared the family and all the displaced residents in the building next door.
I know, it may seem a little far-fetched for some people to understand this; yet, it depends on whether you really believe in the power of prayer to protect us or not. When the angels of God were sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, if you recall, Abraham negotiated with God to save both cities; if, He could find ten righteous people—ten praying people. And, because He could not find ten people, the two cities were destroyed. So, today when you pray for your friends and family, feel free to run the gamut. Pray for the people on the bus with you this morning. Pray for the other commuters driving to work today. Pray for the vendor who sells your favorite morning beverage. and the one who you normally buy lunch from. Don't leave anyone out! Pray for all those insignificant people that you never really pay any attention to; because, it just might make the difference between life & death. L.
Study Reference: Genesis 18:23-32, Ephesians 6:16-18
From:"Praying For The Multitudes." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock
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