Do not worry about your life, what you will eat. (Luke 12:22)
When the Khmer Rouge began taking over Cambodia in the 1970s, many Cambodians sought refuge in Thailand. To get there they had to trek many miles on foot, over terrain that was riddled with land mines and thorny bushes. Often it would take weeks to finally reach safety.
When they arrived at the refugee camps, the immigrants were hungry because it had been days since they had eaten. One would think, then, that the first thing these refugees would ask for would be food. However, this was not the case among Cambodian Christians. Upon entering the compound, they would kneel down as a group and pray, thanking God for how He helped them on the journey. They would then pray for those who were still trying to reach the Thai border. One believer put it this way: “Yes, we are hungry, but we do not feel the compulsion to eat first. Instead, we feel the need to thank God and then ask Him to help other Cambodians who are also trying to reach safety like we have. We pray for the safe travel of other Christians, but we also pray for those who are not believers, that they will arrive here in order for us to be able to share the good news of Jesus with them. We hunger for their salvation!”
Take time for gratitude and intercession before concentrating on your physical needs.
Jim “Umfundisi” Lo is the author of Connect with God: The Purpose of Prayer(WPH).
