“O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me so these people will know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You are turning their hearts back again.”
(1 Kings 18:36-37)

  One of the interesting contrasts in Elijah’s “contest” with the prophets of Baal is in the quantity of words used. The pagan prophets prayed to their god all day, from morning to the time of the evening sacrifice. Elijah prayed to the true God in words that require thirty seconds to speak. The power of prayer is in God, not the number of our words.
 
       We sometimes think that a long prayer, a wordy prayer, is a better prayer. Do we think we have to hold up God’s hands – as Aaron and Hur supported Moses’ hands during a battle (Exodus 17) – with our flow of words? Jesus taught, “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matthew 6:7)  A short prayer can be an expression of faith and trust in our sovereign, powerful God. Speak from the heart, say Amen, and leave it to Him.
 
Here are some suggestions for prayer this week:
 
1.  This prayer topic may require a lengthy prayer just because it is so broad:  persecuted Christians around the world. If you, like I, give little thought to Christians who suffer for their faith, start with repentance for apathy toward their plight. Pray that we as a church in the free U.S.A. would be more faithful in caring about, advocating for, and praying for them. Ask the Lord to strengthen and reward our brethren’s faith. Pray that the church will grow because of their testimony. Persecuted Christians will be one of the subjects of prayer at the Missions Month prayer event on March 15. Make plans to attend!
 
2.  On March 15, Compassion International will be forced to close down their child sponsorship program in India after ministering to children in poverty there for 48 years. As a result of changes to India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act in 2011, NGOs face new restrictions. Explicitly Christian NGOs, such as Compassion, are particularly affected.  Over 147,000 children enrolled in Compassion programs will be directly impacted by the organization’s forced withdrawal from India. Join Jimmy Mellado, Compassion president, in expressing confidence that God is sovereign even over terrible circumstances:  “God is an expert at turning things we think are really bad … into good when we place them in His hands.” 
 
3.  Praise God that Bob Wickersham is doing very well as he undergoes treatment for prostate cancer. His PSA level is now within the normal range, and he has experienced few side effects from the chemotherapy. His fifth treatment is today; his last treatment is scheduled for March 24.
 
4.  Pray for church leaders as the search process for a new associate pastor begins. 
 
5.  Pray that the Lord will bring forward a person with the ability and availability to teach the 1^st/2^ndgrade Sunday School class twice a month. Our Children’s Department has other openings to fill as well. If the Lord stirs your heart to serve, contact Valerie Dyer at  .

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert
Calvary Community Church of Brea