Gospel Driven Prayer

One of the things that God has been showing me is this,

"Gospel Driven Prayer"

While ago, I was in, what I call, "spiritual stagnation".
I did not notice it then, but, now, as I look back that period of time, I think I was in the situation.

Well, I guess nothing wrong was happening to me, such as idolatry or suck into the world stuff.
But, my sin was in my relationship with The Lord, Jesus.
Maybe, not keeping the right relationship with God itself is idolatry. But my point is this,

"I had some wrong idea on prayer".

I know I am told to pray to God constantly and always. I was also aware of the fact that prayer is like talking to God and having a communion with Him.

But, one thing I was missing. What was it? It was the motive for my prayer life.
While I was in Okinawa, Kevin, the Youth Leader @ CCOkinawa graciously gave me a opportunity to teach the youth there. It was during my preparation time for the message that the Lord showed me and convicted me through this....
That the motive of prayer should be The Gospel. My prayer so often is based on my feeling of duty, emotion, need or situation.....etc. The fact is that feeling and emotion, those things will always change. But The Gospel will Never Change.
The gospel shows me how mush God loves me and gives grace to me. And I am over and over overwhelmed by the fact.

I shared this with youth, my conviction is this

"The more I read Bible, Gospel and Word of God, the more sinful I find myself and the more need of God's help and grace I find that I have."

The Gospel always makes me into prayer. His amazing grace always encourages me to pray!
Let our Prayer driven by the gospel!!

Prayer for Japan

日本のためにお祈りください！

今年1～8月の全国の自殺者数が、昨年同期比971人（4．5％）増の2万2362人となったことが28日、警察庁のまとめ（暫定値）で分かった。すべて の月で昨年を上回っており、12年連続で年間3万人を超えるだけでなく、過去最悪だった2003年の3万4427人に迫るペースが続いている。　（時事通信）

　このように多くの日本人が希望を失って、自らの命を絶っています。本当の希望、イエス・キリストに会うまでに亡くなってしまう。
　一人でも多くの日本人に福音が届くようにともに祈りましょう。

"Japan's suicide rate, already one of the world's highest, has increased with the recent economic downturn.

There were 2,645 suicides recorded in January 2009, a 15 percent increase from the 2,305 for January 2008, according to the Japanese government.

The Japanese government said suicide rates are a priority and pledged to cut the number of suicides by more than 20 percent by 2016. It plans to improve suicide awareness in schools and workplaces. But officials fear the toll will rise with unemployment and bankruptcies, matching suicide spikes in earlier tough economic times." CNN

(more detail go here>> http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/19/suicide.forrest.japan/index.html)

Please keep the nation of Japan in your prayer.
There are so many people without hope, true hope, Jesus Christ.
And please pray that we as Christian will be able to reach out to those people.