SEEKING GOD FOR MIRACLES (FOR THE KURDS)
A few days ago, I saw this CBN headline: “Syrian Christians Pray, Kiss the Bible Before Heading to Front Lines in Battle Against Turkey.” Since then, it’s reported they are suffering mounting disasters. Our government is embroiled in a political mess and needs wisdom for the path forward. I must say my heart breaks over this.
I’ve heard and believed for years that Kurdish territory was one place persecuted Christians could flee for refuge. Now, I am in tears for them. And yet, I remember how nothing is impossible with our God. With Him, nothing is hopeless; and with Him, no one is helpless. When I start feeling otherwise, I need to realign my heart with His truth and begin again to send up faith-filled prayers. One way I rekindle my faith is by remembering Bible stories where God moved heaven and earth for His people.
David is one who suffered through great conflicts. Time and again he trusted the Lord to deliver him. Just look at his description of his rescue in Psalm 18. First, he describes his distress and desperate prayer:: "The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord. I cried to my God for help” (vss. 4-6a).
Then, he recounts God’s deliverance: “From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. . . The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot His arrows and scattered the enemies . . . He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.” (vss. 6b-7,13-14a, 16-17)
Was David being melodramatic? Actually, I doubt he knew how to describe God’s intervention in less than sensational terms. He saw God obliterating the devil’s power with one mighty roar: “Let my son go, you wretched creature!” To David, God had done a mighty miracle.
Of course, miracles are not strange to Scripture. In fact, the Bible is packed with miraculous stories of God moving on behalf of His people – saving, healing, delivering, cleansing, restoring, and even raising people from the dead!
What a Mighty God we serve! He says He never changes (See Malachi 3:6.) This means that if He did miracles then, He still does them. And there are so many modern-day stories of divine rescues! I’m sure you have your own.
Now, back to our Kurdish brothers and sisters of Syria: Please pray for them in their desperate hour. (And let’s also remember to pray for our persecuted family throughout this world.) I know these are wearying times; I feel it, and I’m sure you do, too. But we need to ask God to strengthen our resolve and rekindle our love. We must decide to press through in prayer. There is simply too much at stake. And who knows but that we might see a miraculous answer to our prayers. Let it never be said we gave up or got distracted and dropped the ball in the hour of our destiny.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people (Eph. 6:18),
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance (Phil. 1:18b-19).
"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matt. 18:18).
