Sharing on prayers (Part 1)

The sermon preached by my pastor today was on prayer (Acts 4:23-31) - “when the church prays”, so i think it was the opportune time for me to write a post to revise on the things which I had learnt from the book the intercessory prayer by Dutch Sheets, share my experience in my journey in intercessory prayer for more than a month, and also share a few important pointers on what my pastor has shared today. It would have a part 1 and 2.Ok. To revise on the three chapters on intercessory prayer, I would summarize into 3 main points.

The first I believe is the importance of persistance in intercessory prayer. This is because God is really into marinating while we are into microwaving. The parable of the persistent widow clearly teaches us this (Luke 18:1-8). While we are into marinating, our faith increases to the point where we claims the promises of God.

The second is seeing ourselves as important in the involvement of the works of God on earth. This was illustrated in Ezek 22:30,31 where God searched for a man to stand in the gap but found no one. It was depressing. Therefore, we are representatives of God to fulfill his works on earth. And intercession is part of that work we can do.

Thirdly and lastly, there’s an intercessor for us in heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ, and by his name we can bring our requests to God (1 Tim 2:5). All our intercession would be futile if not for Christ. 

February has passed in a flash, as you may know, I went on a holiday trip to Japan from 6 Feb to 15 feb. And I started on learning intercessory prayer on 12 Jan. On the first day of the Japan trip, when we touched down at Tokyo Narita Airport, we proceeded to take a train which travelled overnight to bring us to Hokkaido. In my learning on intercessory prayer, I have been praying for my cousin Yingwei, because she is a backsliden christian and to say sheepishly, I have not maintained a good relationship with her all these while to see the possibility of inviting her back to the church. On this first day, by grace of God, I managed to rebuild my relationship with her. We had a good conversation and laughs while consuming a night snack at a restaurant on the train (it occupied one cabin) with other relatives.

At night, I was thanking God for breaking the ice between us and helping me to build a bridge to her. This would opened up doors for me in the future to invite her back to church. At the same time, I was interceding for my family as well as relatives, going through my usual routine of intercessory prayer for different groups of people. When i finished the prayer and said “Amen”; incidentally, the train shook. It had stopped perennially at a stopover station – the eminent presence of God.

In the sermon preached today by my pastor, in Acts 4:31, the place where the believers were meeting shook after they prayed. The shaking signified the presence of God. It was very coincidental that the train shook at the exact moment I said “Amen”. I wouldn’t be reading too much into this but what I would believe is this - this prayer had shaken situations in the spiritual realms. End of part 1.. Look out for part 2.  

Ouch, Ouch !!!

Yesterday marked the end of my first acupunture experience which lasted 10 complete days from 21 feb to 1 march 08, a 10-sessioned Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy. It cost me a hefty $30 per session.

I’m a staunch believer of TCM. Essentially, TCM advocates the use of natural ways to heal, the theory is much complicated though. Practically, TCM practitioners use cups and fire, needles, their own knuckles and hands to heal. I am a qualified foot reflexologist. I was so absorbed into foot reflexology one time that it became my idol; I have repented since. I sprained and injured my left wrist twice while administering this therapy to customers during the stint of working as a foot reflexologist for about three months; the repercussions being a chronic wrist pain starting from my left wrist now extending also to my right wrist due to poor posture while using the pc.

Comparing acupuncture(A) and foot reflexology(B) …

A is a more torturous process than B. B can be very pleasurable if the pressure is controlled well throughout the 40 min or 60 min standard process.

However, I can say A sees results faster, and is less labour intensive method than B. I can attest to the effectiveness of A in reducing the discomfort of my chronic sinus very soon in the 10-day period. See, B can easily harm the practitioner if you have not enough experience and the furniture did not give you good ergonomics.

Overall the experience of acupuncture was one of ouch, ouch. I feared it. But I couldn’t deny its effectiveness and mystification (a few needles can stimulate your nerves and in turn curing your conditions, cool isn’t it). But needles do prick. Ouch, ouch. I still opt for B if the need doesn’t arise for A.