The President Who Called for Prayer

When Pastor Jeff Kirby went to speak in Chile, his translator invited him to go to the weekly prayer meeting at the palace of the president of Chile. While there, he heard a behind-the-scenes story of the miners who were trapped in the mine in 2010.

After a rockfall trapped 33 men nearly half a mile underground, the president authorized that prayer be made daily in his residence until the miners were released. After about 30 days, the searchers were ready to call it off thinking the miners were probably no longer alive. But in one of the prayer meetings, someone felt inspired to say that the miners were still alive and the drilling should continue. About 66 days into the search the drill bit broke through and they were found. It took about 30 more days to get them out.

While the prayers were going on in the president's private chapel, what they did not know was that a spiritual revival was going on below. One of the miners was a part-time pastor and praying with the men. Some were getting saved. Their only source of water was contaminated water. They prayed over it and no one got sick. When they were pulled out each one was praising God.

If only we could see what is happening when we pray, we would not be discouraged by delay. Often God is working behind the scenes, doing more than we would anticipate.

I love the way The Message renders Colossians 2:15: Jesus "stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets." This is why Satan tries so hard to get us to quit praying. He knows He is absolutely powerless against our persistent prayers. He understands the power they have more than we do.

So when Satan whispers, "Your prayers are worthless," know that his greatest fear is that you will recognize he is lying.

Jesus, I'm trusting that You are answering my prayer even though I do not see results.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matt. 7:7, 8). "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence" (Heb. 4:16).