There is no reason, not to pray. People are devastated by wars, earthquakes, storms etc… They need assistance, they need prayer. One must never adopt a hard heart toward these catastrophic events.
Jeremiah wept sorely over the fulfilled word of God against Israel which He spoke and then witnessed with his own eyes. He was persecuted for bringing the hard word of destruction and judgment from God upon the people yet he still wept bitterly when it came to pass. Do we have such a heart? I know I fall short of it.
Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Let us ask the Lord for a spirit of prayer and intercession. Let us ask God for a heart which weeps at the things that break His heart. While there is a righteous and just, “I told you so” in the ways of God and His servants, it is not without tears and compassion and a deep heartfelt sharing of God’s desire to bring life and restoration, even by use of catastrophic disaster through wars, storms, earthquakes etc….
There is most often a remnant left to reflect upon and consider the events and their causes. Whether we believe God brought them directly or whether we believe he merely “allowed” them to happen, like many teach saying that God’s hand of protection is removed from a people who turn their backs on Him, we still must consider that our sin, our debauchery has made us vulnerable to destruction.
We must be aware that we may not be a survivor of the next catastrophe. We may die in our sins. Would you rather die in your sins or die right with God? This is our message to our selves and to others.
(Ezek 33:11 [AKJV/PCE])
Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (oh people)
I do believe that God Himself brings these things, but it doesn’t matter, when it comes to whether you die in your sins or not. It doesn’t matter, when it comes to the fact that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. We must still seek to share His heart, to partake in His love and desire to see men saved and not that they perish. But we must at the same time warn without apology, that it is not going to get any better.
I know that the judgment of God is upon us. We say it and it comes to pass yet people will avoid and deny and suppress it. But are we repenting? Are we praying for our own sanctification? Are we praying for the souls and hardships of others? Are we weeping for our own sin? Are we praying for for the loss others are experiencing? Are we seeking Jesus Christ? Are we preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified? Are we warning of the destruction of these last days and the final judgment to come?
Why should you live and another die? Why should we be warm and fed and another left homeless out in the cold mourning the loss of his family and his material possessions?
Let us seek for a spirit of prayer and intercession. Let us seek for the heart of God. Let us humble ourselves and be grateful. Let us see that we are no better than those who lost everything in the Tidal Waves, in the Typhoons, in the Earthquakes, in the Wars.
God is calling us to walk in righteousness, in faith in Jesus Christ, in love, in humility, in this present time, in this present place. No one is immune. As it rains on the just and unjust, so does calamity come.
May the following words reign in our souls, sanctify us, be a testimony concerning us and flow out as blessing to those around us.
(Col 3:1 [AKJV])
If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
(Col 3:2 [AKJV])
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(Col 3:3 [AKJV])
For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
(Col 3:4 [AKJV])
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
(Col 3:5 [AKJV])
Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
(Col 3:6 [AKJV])
For which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience:
(Col 3:7 [AKJV])
In the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
(Col 3:8 [AKJV])
But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
(Col 3:9 [AKJV])
Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;
(Col 3:10 [AKJV])
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
(Col 3:11 [AKJV])
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
(Col 3:12 [AKJV])
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
(Col 3:13 [AKJV])
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
(Col 3:14 [AKJV])
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.
(Col 3:15 [AKJV])
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful.
(Col 3:16 [AKJV])
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(Col 3:17 [AKJV])
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Edification and Sanctification 