PRAYING WITH (COM)PASSION
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things” (Mark 6:34).
I love to begin my prayer time praying God’s attributes back to him. One of the first ways God describes himself is as compassionate. God tells Moses in Exodus 34:6: “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.’”
What is compassion? Webster defines it as sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. However, action is what separates compassion from pity, sympathy, empathy, or other compassion synonyms. Compassion gets involved.
The Bible defines compassion as more than a feeling, but as an action of doing something to help the suffering and misfortune of others:
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18 NIV).
"This is what the Lord Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other'" (Zechariah 7:9-10 NIV).
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind" (Philippians 2:1-2 NIV).
These Bible verses teach us compassion as a true mark of Christian character. Jesus Christ is our perfect model and the greatest example of someone with true compassion. His compassion is action! Action through His heart and love for people by his many miracles through healing countless people, feeding the multitudes, and even resurrecting life from death!
Jesus’ life is a picture of love in action. He had compassion on the outcast, the suffering, for “sinners” (those held in judgement or thought less of), for the multitudes, and even now for us! His greatest act of compassion and healing took place on the cross when he personally died to pay the price for our sins. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). That’s compassion in ultimate action!
The Palau ministry is expressing compassion and Jesus’ love in action too. Their work with “City Gospel Movements” meet the physical needs of others, leading to their real act of compassion: proclaiming Jesus’ Good News of salvation which transforms lives for eternity! Luis and the Palau ministry have many wonderful testimonies of changed lives through accepting Christ. That is reason for us to leap for joy and PRAY this message continues to go out into our hurting world. Their and our heart's desire is for everyone to receive the compassionate love gift of eternal salvation.
Please open the reports below and join us in prayer on July 28th! Let’s act in compassion by praying with passion for the Palau ministry. Pray for Luis, Kevin, Andrew, Wendy, and the entire team as they creatively and boldly seek new ways (especially in this crazy COVID season and racial/political unrest) to share the gospel personally, digitally, virtually, and beyond! Let the world know we are Christians by our love in action!
In Compassionate Prayer,
Gail Stockamp
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
PRAYER REPORTS
Please enjoy opening the regional updates below and keeping them in your prayers:
Africa | Plans in Malawi, Kenya, Burundi | Report
Asia | A 2021 outreach in Karachi, Pakistan and continued relations in China | Report
North America | Collaboration to increase and some updates on upcoming events | Report
Europe | Many opportunities for collaborative events in 2021 | Report
Latin America | Encouraging update about the !Si, Hay Esperanza!” festival | Report
The Caribbean | Discernment and resources are needed for future events | Report
SAVE THE DATE: JULY 28TH
Please join us July 28th for our one-hour national quarterly conference prayer call: 1 p.m. Pacific, 2 p.m. Mountain, 3 p.m. Central, and 4 p.m. Eastern time. Luis, Andrew, and Kevin will join us! It will be by Zoom – details to follow!