Be a zealot of prayer

For years I have had this internal struggle on how to deal with tragedy, both in my life and the lives of others. I will stay up way too late going over the "what ifs" and the "what can I do" praying for those involved and for God's peace.

Recently, for Younglife I gave a short message on how God equips us to deal with whatever life throws our way. I know God gave me this topic, not only to help kids understand God's relationship with us but also for me to understand He won't give me or anyone else something we can't handle. Sometimes this seems like a cop-out to tell people but when you walk through something hard in life you will see how this is 100% true.

I've heard people say so many times, "bad things happen and that's life" and I don't necessarily disagree, but it's a dangerous path to take because we can become desensitized to the world around us when tragedy strikes.

In our media driven society it's easy to get caught up in the blame game... gun control, parental control, public school system, homeschooling, vaccines, trans fats, or high fructose corn syrup...blah blah blah. I think it is extremely important to be informed and decern these issues with God's Word and what He says {except trans fat and high fructose corn syrup- I was just kidding}, but if these issues derail us from loving on people and becoming insensitive, then we are not heeding the Word of God. 

We live in a sinful and fallen world. Period. That is the main thing we need to remember instead of trying to put blame on whoever and whatever is to focus on God's Word and know He is in control.

I love this passage- {Romans 12:9-21}
 ^"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”   Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
The most important thing I have learned, and it's so simple, be constant in prayer. We can't control these things and we know God is in control. Pray and hold fast to what is good.


There are so many issues to focus on, I'm not saying each of us needs to be a zealot for all of it and we all can't jump on a plane and help out in these areas of our nation or world {as much as we'd love to do that} but we do need to be praying and that is what we are called to do! 

On the other hand, we also need to be rejoicing with those that rejoice! Read about the good that is happening around you. Sometimes it's a sweet as a teacher who is spending her weekend making gifts for her seniors, a couple celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary, or the awesome guy who gave a waitress a $1,000 tip! Those stories are out there, you just have to dig through the muck sometimes.

That being said-
Lets keep Oklahoma in our prayers as well as do what we can to help- Hello Apparel is selling adorable tanks for $15 and 100% of the proceeds are going to OK Red Cross.

One company to keep in your prayers and your twitter/facebook/reader feed is Liveaction.org.
Liveaction.org is a great non-profit company that is exposing the crime of abortion and doing what they can to stop it. 

God calls us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" {Romans 12:15}
In the good and bad we are to be there for people and pray without ceasing.