Prayers for Guatemala

Many of you have heard about the political unrest in Guatemala.  It's so hard to know exactly what is going on but one thing is sure........we need to pray.  For the past several months we have watched our friends protest in a peaceful manner.  I (Lisa) was there during one of these protests and the energy was electric.  The order and unity blew me away.  This article explains how the protests began. 

Corruption has been exposed and the Vice President has been arrested.  Guatemalans are asking that the President resign.  Presidential elections are scheduled for September 6 and most of our partners and friends feel like the candidate that is most likely to win is just as corrupt as the current President.

As Delmi and I talked by phone yesterday I heard the concern in her voice regarding another issue:  The lack of rain.   A quick search led me to this article that explains how the current drought situation could threaten to kill up to a million people.  It didn't take long for me to think of the ridiculous rate of child malnutrition that will obviously rise. 

Christians in Guatemala are uniting and praying and trusting God to intervene and change the course of their country.  We need to do the same.  Would you consider praying each day between now and September 6?  Perhaps you will feel led to fast something.

Regardless of how you do it - please pray. 

I was doing a little search today on prayer and was drawn to James 5.  You can read the entire chapter here.

It begins by talking about rich oppressors being judged.

"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. ⁴ Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.^{[a] 5} You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as^[b] in a day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

-James 5: 1-7 NKJV

Then James speaks of being patient and enduring.....

¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful."

And the power of our prayers.....

^"16 Confess your trespasses^[e] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. 

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

And finally, a prayer for RAIN!!! 

¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit."

I don't begin to understand all that is going on in Guatemala; however, I know how to pray. I choose to sacrifice myself this week and pray for my friends and the country that I love.  Thank you for joining me.