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Transformation: Microwaving or Marinating?

[Tony is representative of the folks coming to Indy in November for the national CCDA Convention -- Bible-believing leaders who through the power of the Holy Spirit are changing lives & communities. ]

Pray Until Something Happens!
By Tony Danhelka



We have not chosen a quick-fix, problem-free profession. Christian community development involves confronting and rebuilding the systems that have degraded people for decades. The development process takes time. We have all watched the coming and going of staff, donors, volunteers and families we serve. We have taken on the “powers that be” and attempted multiple solutions that sometimes fall short. All too often the cycles of poverty overwhelm us and drive us to our knees in prayer. That’s a good place to be.

After all, we are really in the transformation business. God has called us to engage the families living in economically stressed communities with practical demonstrations of the power of the Gospel of Christ. But, why can’t we see transformation happen faster?

We have all spent many hours and days imploring God to hasten personal and community transformation, but the Bible indicates that God is often not in a hurry. He takes all the time needed to build our character in the transformation process. Noah prayed his way through the process of building the Ark for 100 years. Abraham prayed 25 years for the son God promised before the miraculous birth. Moses prayed for 40 years to reach the Promised Land. Daniel prayed three times a day for 70 years before he saw the exiles begin returning to Israel. Paul and millions of missionaries after him prayed and strived for the salvation of the nations, but many areas are still unreached by the Gospel. These servants of the Lord prayed long and worked hard until the breakthrough came.

One pastor told me, “We are into microwaving, but God is into marinating!” Though the pace is fast and the demands are great, we more than ever need to be a people of persistent prayer, resilient in our travail. We need to soak our callings, projects and families with prayer until we see God’s hand move.

Perseverance in prayer calls for moral character and Holy Spirit power. Jesus taught his disciples a mighty lesson about the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 to show them they should always pray and not give up. We often don’t understand the bigger picture as God leads us into a mission. We pray and work for the breakthrough of finances, volunteers, professional help, building skills or whatever is needed. We start out praying and working toward the goal but then fall short in our prayers because of the mammoth demands before us.

In these times of discouragement, invite the Holy Spirit to teach you how to pray about the challenge before you. Then listen and rest—He will speak. Ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you when you are dry. He will refresh you or change you. Praise Him throughout the process. Fast from food at times, telling your body that your spirit is in charge and that you hunger and thirst after God. When you break the fast, pray for breakthrough in your mission. Pray in the morning, and pray at night or through the night. Pray with like-minded friends in Christ. In God’s time, the breakthrough will happen.

CCDA member ministries are a living testimony that God answers persistent, resilient prayer. Homes have been restored, communities rebuilt, businesses established, churches planted, and most of all people transformed. We need to speak up when we see breakthrough in our community development in order to encourage those still praying, waiting and working. Let’s remind each other that we can feed, clothe, and teach people, but only God can transform them into new creations in Christ.

Used by Permission -- Copyright 2005

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You'll enjoy meeting Tony and thousands of others like him.... November 16th -- 20th.


Here's a video clip from last year's convention in Atlanta.
[slow load, but worth the wait]




Don't miss out on this opportunity of an Indiana-lifetime!

posted by IndyChristian @ 6:00 AM