Flooded River

I've started a habit of going up to pray at a levy along the River Sava which winds through Zagreb. It's just behind the student dorms, about 5 minute bike ride from our apartment...it's a great location to pray for the city and for students specifically. As I've told you about in the past, there is a prayer movement which has started among us. Currently as a church we are praying more than 24 hours in a week for our city and nation. This number is only increasing. Along with this, I feel God stirring in me to round up intercessors in the city to pray more specifically for this younger generation of college students. You see, the spiritual atmosphere here in Zagreb is suffocating. People are not open to listen. Generally speaking, there is a lack of spiritual hunger...and if for some reason hunger does exist, this post-Christian culture turns to other answers. We're praying that they'll come back to reality...to the way we were meant to live...in intimate relationship with our Maker. This turning in people's hearts (in my own heart) is only a work of God and must come through prayer. So because of this, we need to pray for our city and change the spiritual atmosphere.

Back to where I started...I was up praying on the levy the other day which has now become my habit. Well, one night we had some strong storms come through our area. When I woke up that morning and went out the levy, the river was flooded over it's banks and into the flood plain. It had doubled it's size in a matter of hours and was now strong enough to uproot and carry entire trees and bails of hay. I saw all kinds of crazy things floating down the river! It struck me as a picture of what these prayers are like. The river is always there flowing through the city just as our prayers are. Then one day, due to a downpour of God's "rain"...His Spirit, the prayers increase to flood stage. This flood will totally change the face of the river bed. It will wash away all kinds of junk out of the city. It will be noticed by all who pass by...and people will watch in amazement at it's strength. This prayer movement is the same way. Only may it never die down! May it be passed on from person to person and from generation to generation.

We praise God for all the miracles He's performed since this movement began. In our newsletter (which I am currently writing) I'm giving more detail about all the Lord has done around us. If you are not receiving that newsletter and would like to, please send me an email at albrights@sharelifenow.net. We're encouraged. Please pray for steadfastness. -James