The Power of Prayer in Seemingly Hopeless Situations

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5: 14 - 15

As those of us on the Gulf Coast watch in horror as the hole in the sea floor pumps out 5,000 barrels of oil each day, endangering not only our beautiful beaches and wildlife but our very economic existence, we wonder what we can do. I volunteered on the phone bank Saturday, taking calls from all over the country, people just wanting to help. Many people are praying, and that is a GREAT thing and I encourage everyone to pray.

However, what are the prayers? Are we asking God to help the people and animals through this trial or are we asking God to STOP THE SPILL. I told someone yesterday my prayer was for God to reach His hand down from Heaven and plug the hole. They said to me "The experts say they can't plug the hole for a month of more."

It hit me then, are we praying to God with the confidence he requires?

I was reminded of Exodus 14. The Israelites literally had their "backs against the wall". The Red Sea on one side and the approaching Egyptian army on the other. They were scared and saw no way out, crying out to Moses "It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" (Exodus 14:12b)

What did Moses say, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:13-14) The lesson, God can deliver us from ANYTHING. Nothing is too big for God.

I notice when we pray, we sometimes seem to be shy about asking for the miracles. As we look at scripture it seems clear God wants us to ask, and he wants us to ask with confidence, not hesitation! (1 John 3:22) In fact, he has commanded us to believe and not doubt, advising that those who pray with doubt in their heart will not receive anything. (James 1:6-8) God has told us, "ask and you will receive" (John 16:24b). He is the God of power and might, do you doubt his ability to stop the oil, to turn it away from our shores? Are you afraid or hesitant to ask Him to do that?

Today, I ask ALL of you to pray for an END to this Oil Spill. Pray for God to safely remove the oil, keep it from the shores. Pray for the miracle, confidently knowing "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

Please share this message with as many people as you can. We need the biggest prayer chain ever to push this oil back in the ground and plug the hole!! Thank you and God Bless you all!!