Prayer for the big stuff

During Pastor's Coffee House on Sunday we were talking about how it can be sometimes difficult to pray for the intangibles or things that are far away - peace, justice, end to poverty, our national leaders, etc. Because these problems are so entrenched and solutions seem unobtainable, it becomes easy to leave them off of our prayer list. Instead we focus on the little things - a good day at work, personal healing, self improvment, our job, our financial situation, etc. - things that are important but also manageable.

I went to hear Jim Wallis speak tonight at the kick off for a new organiztion called NY Faith & Justice. This group commits itself to "following Christ, uniting the church and ending poverty," goals that are in their very nature prophetic and without faith they are impossible. "Faith is for the big stuff," Rev. Wallis said in his remarks. "Faith the size of a mustard seed (really really small) can move mountains (really, really big)," Jesus said. When government is at an impasse, when everyone is at wit's end, the movement of God thorugh the people of God sets things into balance. The American Revolution was preceeded by a revival. The Civil War was preceeded by a revival. The progressive social reforms of the late 1800's were preceeded by a revival. The civil rights movement was preceeded by a revival. Faith can move mountains. So we're called to pray. And we're called to live out our faith by walking the walk of Jesus.