For the next twenty-one days, Living Water International is inviting believers worldwide to pray with them for water. Over half of the hospital beds in the world are filled with patients who are there because of a lack of water or due to a waterborne disease. Water opens the door to sharing the Gospel. When you’ve provided the means to restore health to the children of a family in the name of Jesus, they are often eager to learn more about who this Jesus is. While water is something most of us in the West take for granted, it is a scarce commodity for nearly a billion people on our planet.
You can join with Living Water International by visiting prayforwater.org and downloading a prayer guide. Specifically, we will be praying for five different areas of impact during these twenty-one days:
- Health – Jesus commanded us to give a drink to the thirsty and to care for the sick (Matthew 25:31-46). When we provide clean drinking water to drought-stricken lands, we provide more than refreshment. Hundreds of millions of people drink the dirty, infested water that is available to them which results in many illnesses. The tragedy is these illnesses are easily treated and prevented by modern medicine, but these people have no access to that either. Water provides healing to the forgotten peoples in the world.
- Education – The number one reason young women drop out of school in sub-Saharan Africa is due to water-related issues. A lack of water means no education and lost generations of potential doctors, entrepreneurs and leaders. This creates a devastating legacy for many countries in Africa.
- Women – It is a stunning fact that in sub-Saharan Africa, the women spend over 100 million hours combined – each day – just to retrieve water for their families. Countless miles are spent walking alone, carrying large jugs of water. It is back-breaking work that leaves them vulnerable to attack and abuse. We need to pray for their safety and strength.
- Poverty – Water is the most important concern for those living in poverty. Without water, there is no life. While it has become easy for us to block out the images of the poor, we must repent and keep them on our minds and on our hearts. Jesus expects us to care for those living in poverty. Turning a blind eye toward them is the same as turning your back on Jesus. We must be the hands that deliver healing water to the poor among us.
- Spirit – There is a spiritual battle being waged around us every second of every day. Make no mistake; the suffering and lack of water are direct results of the evil influence of Satan on the world. The job before us is large and will not be accomplished by human hands alone. The lack of water for so many is a spiritual problem that must be fought on a spiritual plane. We must come together and pray that those who thirst might be quenched, and that those who are sick would be healed.
Will you spare 5 minutes for the next twenty-one days in joining a global movement to pray for water in our world? This will cost you nothing but a small fraction of time. Jesus said that when two or three came together in His name, He would honor their petitions (Matthew 18:18-20). How much more if two or three hundred thousand would join together in praying for the water needs on our planet? Together we can eradicate thirst. Our brothers and sisters desperately need our help and intercession. Please join me in praying for water.
Question: Will you commit to taking time over the next 21 days to pray with us?