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By Lailani Mendoza
PRAYER is simply a litany of words uttered to a divine
being that corresponds to one’s religion. But not all prayers are the
same.
Nothing illustrates this more dramatically than the
story of Elijah challenging the prophets of Baal to prove their idol was
the true God.
Like the strenuous efforts of Baal’s followers,
which left their sacrifice untouched by sacred fire, prayers are just words
when they fall on the deaf ears of false gods.
But prayer, when directed to the one true God, is a
powerful force. The people who watched the divine showdown believed this
when they saw Elijah’s sacrifice torched with fire from heaven after
his brief, simple prayer.
This drama isn’t confined to the Old Testament.
People across Canada are praying for change through a growing ministry.
Operating under Power to Change, Breakthrough consists
of teams who meet for one hour each week to pray for their respective
spheres of influence.
Expanding from Mothers Who Care, a prayer ministry
started by a group of women who faithfully prayed in schools, Breakthrough
now includes athletes, soldiers and others who would like to participate in
this growing movement.
“We become change agents as we pray; but the
funny thing is, we’re changed as we pray,” said Karen Braun,
Breakthrough’s national director, of the dual effect prayer has.
Breakthrough follows the FACTS strategy: Focus,
Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.
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Teams of at least two individuals are given scripture
verses to pray using this format – a strategy that concentrates on
the truth of God’s word.
Although Christians must lift up their own
supplications to God, Braun said something significant happens when we use
prayer for a goal that’s bigger than our own needs.
This goal, she said, is “to inquire, hear and
obey, to advance God’s kingdom.”
May 2009
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