It's Time to Heal

It was an ugly, heartbreaking split between two churches 50 years ago. I was too young to have any idea of what was going on—I just remember suddenly being in a new Sunday school class with some of my same friends from my old class. We were in a new, vibrant church with familiar people, and so the transition was pretty easy for me.

But as the years passed, I began to get glimpses of the hurt and pain that accompanied the split of one of the largest churches in town. I overheard critical comments. There seemed to be a competitive spirit at summer camp between my new and old churches. Although we would join together for a Thanksgiving service with churches of the same denomination, I always knew there were still hurt feelings between believers who were once considered close friends. Certainly, unity in the Body of Christ was not on display as the two churches struggled to co-exist in the same town.

Then about five years ago I received an invitation (as did hundreds of people) to return to the original church for a 125-year celebration. I learned the son of the original pastor was scheduled to speak (his father was no longer living). I knew this former pastor was the source of great controversy, but I also sensed in my spirit God wanted to start a work of healing. So I prayed—and then sent a letter to the son who was scheduled to speak. I acknowledged that our families probably landed on different sides of the issues, but that it really didn’t matter. I simply stated this was an opportunity for him to speak peace and healing into the church by somehow addressing the obvious lingering conflict.

I then prayed that God would use this celebration as a defining moment of restoration and reconciliation. I returned to my hometown to attend the celebration, believing that the Lord was prompting me to pray those prayers. Although I had wished for more, he did touch on the past and spoke to the need to move forward. I had to trust the Lord was at work in even that slight mention.

Now, five years later and at exactly the 50-year mark—God is truly answering those prayers! Just last Sunday night, there was a unanimous vote to bring the two churches together as one congregation. God has done a work of healing and restoration—something I wasn't sure I would ever see in my lifetime! But the people are genuinely ready to come together in a spirit of unity and forgiveness, with great hope for the future.

I can’t help but wonder if this is just a glimpse of what is coming in the Body of Christ. True revival includes reconciliation between brothers and sisters in Christ who have experienced hurt and division over the years.

If this can happen between two churches after 50 years, it can happen in any church, ministry, family, or situation. That’s what I’m praying toward—the revival and restoration of the Church that in turn ushers in spiritual awakening in our communities and nation. It’s time.

Every Prayer Counts!

For the past few years, I have spent many late nights praying with my friends Mike, Traci, and Madan in the prayer room at my church. We pray for revival. We pray for lost people. We lift up our pastor, his upcoming message on Sunday, and the worship services. We long for God to do a work of spiritual awakening in our nation.

In addition, we pray for India. We especially pray for the Dalit people – the untouchables. We pray they will experience the love of Christ and lead the way in revival throughout the nation of India. We pray this way because our friend Madan is an untouchable who was dramatically rescued from probable death by a Swedish missionary named Svea Mellin.

Unprecedented Chance

As a young boy in India, Madan Valvi's mother carried him on her back and walked all night to find medical help for him. It was Svea who opened the door of the Swedish Covenant mission and welcomed Madan and his mother. Not only did Svea get medical treatment for Madan, she also asked if she could bring Madan into the boarding school and essentially raise him – a chance never afforded an untouchable.

Somehow Svea knew God was prompting her to invest her heart and prayers into this young boy who was otherwise destined to live in poverty and humiliation. She became a spiritual mother to Madan, teaching him the Bible and praying faithfully that he would always serve God.

Madan graduated from high school, college, and seminary – something that just doesn’t happen among the Dalit people. He and his wife Deepali and their family received much of their schooling in the United States, but longed to return to India to share the gospel with those who will always be branded as untouchables.

Over the years, Madan lost touch with Svea. Yet he always carried a photo of her in his wallet as a reminder of God’s grace shown to him through this quiet, humble woman. After some 30 years had passed, Madan assumed Svea was no longer living.

Keeping a Promise

In the meantime, God miraculously opened doors for Madan to return to India several times a year to preach the gospel and show the love of Christ to the Dalits. They come by

the thousands to hear Madan preach. If an untouchable has the unusual fortune to rise above the caste system of India, that person rarely returns. But Madan joyfully goes back to his people with a message of love – and they flock to hear it and soak it in. Madan kept his promise to Svea that he would always serve the Lord.

Then the unexpected happened – something Madan never dreamed God had in His plans for him. He was invited to Sweden to preach the gospel and teach on the power of prayer and the hope for revival. After some research by a colleague, Madan discovered the Svea was still alive at 93 years of age! A reunion was quickly arranged between the two dear friends who had no idea what had happened to each other.

Madan wanted to thank Svea for her love and prayers. He wanted her to know that her investment in Madan was now bearing fruit far beyond anything Svea could have imagined.

Their joyous reunion was covered by local media and television, as well as by the

national Swedish press. Svea did not understand what all the media attention was about, but her heart was thrilled to see Madan again. She had retired from the mission field without any real assurances that her prayers had made any difference – and now God was allowing her to see the powerful impact they were having on a nation!

About a month after Madan and Svea were reunited, Svea was welcomed to her eternal home by her beloved Jesus. As a special gift to both Madan and Svea, the Lord allowed them to be together for that brief moment and rejoice in God’s faithfulness. Madan later returned to Sweden to honor Svea at her memorial service.

Svea had no idea how much her prayers had counted. Now she knows. I hope to live out Svea’s example in my own life and never give up praying for revival. If my heart is attuned to my Father’s heart, I can be assured that every prayer counts. 

Sometimes You Just Need to Ask

Susan came forward for prayer after the morning worship service. She was a bit hesitant with her request because she was afraid we might think it was trivial or that she lacked the faith to be obedient to the Lord.

But she had a need that was weighing her down and causing anxiety in her spirit. She was leaving the next day on a missions trip to a reservation in South Dakota. She looked ahead at the weather forecast and realized it was predicted to be above 100 degrees for the week – and they were planning to work outside. “I don’t do well in the heat,” she confessed. “I’m so worried.”

We gathered around her and began praying exactly the right things. “Lord, give Susan the strength to endure. Ease her anxiety. Flood her soul with peace. Protect her from any physical stress that might cause her harm. Let her trust You in this circumstance.”

But my spirit was stirring as I listened to the prayers being offered on Susan’s behalf. It’s not that the prayers were wrong; I was just sensing the Lord wanted to do something different in Susan’s life.

When there was a break in the praying, I looked at Susan and asked her a simple question: “What temperature would you like it to be?”

She looked surprised, but replied, “Well, 80s would be perfect.”

“All right, then,” I said. “I would like to ask the Lord for 80 degrees for you.” I then prayed a very short but specific prayer for Susan. I asked the Lord to surprise her with that perfect temperature.

Susan came back the following week, her missions trip completed. She couldn’t wait to report the profound shift in the weather pattern – it was in the 80s the entire week!

Don’t Complicate Things

Prayer is such a mystery. At times we get caught up in trying to pray the right things, not wanting to suggest anything to God that might be “out of His will.” We want to honor the Lord in our prayers, and we certainly don’t want to give false hope or pray in ways that might cause people to be disappointed.

But sometimes we just need to ask. God could have chosen to grow Susan’s character by creating an opportunity for her to rely more on Him in the midst of sweltering heat. He could have decided that now was the time to release Susan of her anxiety by demonstrating that He would care for her regardless of the circumstances. He may have wanted to use 100 degrees as a way to build Susan’s character.

Instead, God chose to delight Susan’s heart by answering a simple request. As far as Susan was concerned, she believed God interrupted the weather patterns over an entire state and region just for her!

I was reminded of this story today, even though it happened a few years ago. Sometimes you need to remember God’s faithfulness from the past and let your hope for the future be renewed. I need some refreshed prayer hope!

Don’t hesitate to pray your heart’s desires. It’s OK. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:11: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Rather than worrying that our requests might be too self-serving or maybe out of His will, sometimes we just need to ask our gracious and loving God. Let Him surprise you with abundant and good gifts.

Creating Disturbances

I recently had the police called on me. Well, it wasn’t just me—it included several prayer leaders who were praying through Hollywood as a part of the recent National Prayer Committee meetings. We made a stop at the Scientology headquarters along Sunset Boulevard—an expansive, renovated hospital. The Scientology organization is apparently the largest landowner in Hollywood.

About 50 of us piled off the bus, representing prayer ministries from around the country. No instructions were needed as these prayer leaders immediately began prayer walking on the public sidewalks around the building, inviting God to break down the deceptive strongholds, release the captives to this false religion, and bring a spiritual awakening of Jesus Christ to those associated with Scientology.  One prayer leader who has prayer walked in dozens of nations believed this block was the most spiritually dark place he had ever prayed.

Apparently we were created some “disturbances” in the spiritual realm. Suddenly we noticed security pouring out of the building, which was a good signal for us that it was time to get back on the bus. As we were pulling away, the police showed up. I’m not sure what they would have said to us—stop praying on public sidewalks because you’re disturbing the spiritual aura of this cult? As we drove away, we praised God for the opportunity to pray in the name of Jesus for those who are so lost.

But do these prayer encounters really make a difference? I’ve prayer walked around the international headquarters of a cult in my own community for the past seven years. I can see no discernible difference, yet I know God has called me to do this. Perhaps you are prayer walking around your own neighborhood, wondering the same thing. Often when we pray “great prayers” for spiritual awakening in seemingly impossible places, we do so without ever seeing any kind of impact from our prayers. It's hard to stay faithful.

Two years ago this same group of prayer leaders took a day to pray throughout Hollywood—at movie studios, along the Walk of Fame, and at other key sites related to the entertainment industry. As we returned this year, we heard reports of hopeful changes that pastors and prayer leaders in Hollywood can see. Is Hollywood radically transformed, as we have prayed? Not yet. But God does hear our prayers and will answer according His timing. I fully believe that.

Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” This is God’s heart—and so when we pray these seemingly impossible prayers over such dark places, we can be assured we are praying according to His character and love for the lost.

Keep on creating those “spiritual disturbances” when you encounter darkness. And if you get the police called on you, well—consider that an indicator that your prayers are making a difference! “Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land” (Ps. 85:9).