Thanking God this Christmas

Published: December 20th, 2010

Christmas Day approaches and Jesus followers around the world are preparing to celebrate the day God “became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood” (John1:14).  As I finish wrapping gifts and buy the last ingredients for our festive feast, my attention turns to the preparation of my heart. As I think back over the year just gone, I know there is much to be grateful for.  Below are just ten reasons from 2010 why we – as the people caught up in this movement of prayer, mission and justice – can come to Jesus with grateful hearts this Christmas…

1. Prayer has spread
2. Prayer has intensified
3. Ten years gone
4. The ten years to come
5. Campus America prayed
6. Children and young people prayed
7. People were changed
8. Communities were transformed
9. People were healed
10. People were saved

1.  Prayer has spread

It’s been many years since we first heard the call to creative, missional, 24-7 Prayer, but the challenge still resounds throughout the earth.  This year we celebrated as believers prayed 24-7 for the first time in nations like Ethiopia, Mongolia, Tanzania, Tunisia and Viet Nam. 

2.  Prayer has intensified

2010 has seen a rise in focused, united prayer with years of intercession across in Canada, Scotland, Australia and the USA.  This was also the year that God put the continent of Europe back on our hearts.  People from across world prayed with passion for the only continent on earth where the church is in decline.

3.  Ten years gone

February marked a decade of non-stop prayer around the globe.  The year was peppered with many celebrations, not least of which was ‘Magnify’, the 24-7 International Gathering in Edinburgh, Scotland…

“I can honestly say that the ‘Magnify’ conference has changed my life (no exaggeration!). We have just finished running our very first 24-1 prayer room this Friday to Saturday & I am stunned about what happened in those 24 hours.”  UK

4.  Ten years to come

At ‘Magnify’ I was greatly moved as I watched hundreds of people stand and commit themselves to the next ten years seeking God and His kingdom together.  As Pete Greig challenged us live prayerfully, train leaders and love mission and justice, the 2020 Vision was launched.

5.  Campus America Prayed  

It seemed an impossible dream but 2010 saw the fruition of Campus America – a call to the University, College and seminary campuses of America to dedicate themselves to prayer.  Testimonies like these poured in as God met with His people… 

“People began streaming in. We packed the room with over 60 people who were there simply to pray. As we prayed, the Lord started touching hearts and moving. Many were crying as Jesus did some serious heart work, others were healed physically. The Lord started to birth something that had been in the works for many years—an outbreak of His presence in students’ lives” USA

6.  Children and young people prayed  

24-7 Prayer began with a group of students in a small city in England, In 2010 the focus returned to children and youth.  Many child-friendly 24-7 Prayer Rooms were created and Prayer Spaces in Schools were set up across the United Kingdom.

“How beautiful! At the end of the time there the children were begging to return to come and pray to Jesus. Their simple, genuine love for Jesus and for prayer was obvious and inspiring.” UK

7.  People were changed

It is my great pleasure to receive the emails that come in from across the globe as people pray.  It never fails to move me when I read of a heart touched, a life changed by a small but profound meeting with God.  If “to pray is to change,” (Richard Foster) then 2010 has been a year of transformation.

“We prayed without ceasing and saw so much spiritual growth within the church and an amazing change of attitude within the community towards God.”  Australia

“We saw healings of bodies, minds and hearts. Situations and circumstances that were prayed for were changed. In short, God came and visited with us and answered prayers.” England

8. Communities were transformed

Testimonies from people like Bishop Peter Sekohnyane from South Africa have challenged us to keep pushing on with faith to see our nations transformed.  Watch this video to hear the amazing testimony of thousands saved and communities impacted.

9.  People were healed

This is just one of many testimonies of people healed when people prayed in 2010…

“God healed a number of people – including 2 people who had bad backs and were in quite a bit of pain.  One person in particular could hardly walk and was sitting very uncomfortably.  By the end of the gathering she was sitting on the floor, cross-legged with no pain and complete freedom of movement.  Even now, 3 days later, she is feeling the nerve down her leg constantly tingling and said it feels like the whole thing is re-generating… She is a different person today and still cant wipe the smile off her face!” Australia

10. People were saved

It never ceases to amaze me how attractive prayer can be to those who don’t know God.  Here are just two ways people met Jesus in a Prayer Room and through the amazing 24-7 community on the island of Ibiza.

“We prayed for 253 people over the four days and 25 came to faith.”  Australia

“Countless wonderful stories came out of our time in Ibiza. One night, two of our teammates led a holidaymaker to the Lord after a powerful conversation about purity and abstinence. Another night, two of our girls were able to pray with a dancer they had built a relationship with who ended re-committed her life to Jesus. We were also amazed to see several prostitutes and a few PRs attend two of the Sunday night gatherings the team hosts on a regular basis.”  Ibiza

Carla Harding champions prayer in the International 24-7 movement.  Hailing from Chichester, England her life was hijacked by God in 1999 during a two hour stint in the first ever 24-7 Prayer Room.   Carla is very happily married to Stephen and loves worshipping, blogging, films, books, friends, food, live music and international adventures.  

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