Through the Fire
Looking out the window I see huge snowflakes drifting down onto the trees and the streets covering them with a heavy white blanket. It looks so beautiful and peaceful. But, as I watch the news, I hear of people dying because of houses collapsing under the weight of the snow or from snow sliding off the roofs and burying them. Over one hundred people have died this month from snow related causes. My heart was moved as I watched the news and heard about the deaths.
As I prayed for the families, I realized I need to examine my heart further. I was confronted with the reality that probably all of these did not know Christ, and not only that but I was reminded that over 2,350 people across Japan die each day without knowing Jesus Christ as their Savior. The question that confronted me was, How can all the Japanese have an opportunity to hear the gospel? How can we get the word to the tiny hamlets in the mountains, to the fishing villages by the sea, to the clusters of homes tucked away among the hills and in between the rice paddies? Ask God to open doors for all to hear.
There are other things that are burying people besides the snow. Mounds of debt, fatigue from working long hours, hopelessness, no purpose in life. These are things that cause them to jump in front of trains, make suicide packs with strangers or go into depression. People flee their responsibilities and seek many means of escape from the pressures that load them down. Christians are not exempt from these trials. Pray for the young Christians who are facing family crisis, terminal illness, financial trials and persecution from non Christian family. Pray for the Yo family, the O family, the Ko family, the Ki family and the Wa families who are really passing through the fire now.
Pray for the faith of the Christians to grow stronger day by day as they see Him work in their lives. Ask God to enable them to walk by faith and not by sight, to be able to see His hand at work in their lives. Claim the promises of God for the Japanese people who have no hope. Pray that their eyes will be opened and they will experience His love, mercy, grace and power in their lives as they come to know and trust in Christ and follow him daily.
Claiming His promises together with you,
Lana and Tak