Japan

I received the following from a friend...and I really appreciated both what it shared and having a clearer picture of what to pray for....

It was written by the Director of the Altar International House of Prayer in Tokyo They have lived in Japan for the past 10 years.

"While this disaster is horrid and awful and every other terrible thing, it is actually a blessing that it happened where it did. The Sendai area has long been known among the missionary community to be a kind of hub for missions work. Of all of the areas in Japan that could have been affected by this degree of disaster, these regions are equipped to address the emotional and spiritual needs of the people. To my knowledge, at the time of this writing, there are actually a number of long time missionaries, Japanese pastors, etc... that are in evacuation centers. In a very optimistic perspective, they've got a very open and captive audience. If there was ever an opportunity for awakening and the fires of revival to fall en mass in Japan , it would be now.



Please PRAY specifically for the workers in the power plants, that they may receive heavenly wisdom, insight and angelic assistance on how to manage and diffuse the crisis situations at the Nuclear Power Plants. We NEED some heavenly intervention in this area

We need prayers for the following:

1. for believers all over Japan and especially in Northern Japan to have OPPORTUNITIES to put the gospel to action. this is the perfect time for the church of Japan to arise and demonstrate the works of Christ

2. for safety & protection from the effects of radiation exposure in every way, shape and form from effects on people themselves, to the land, to the sea and everything in between

3. for abundance of supplies & resources


Christianity is a very en vogue thing in Japan right now. There are books and books selling like hot cakes from the shelves in bookstores because of this interest people have in studying about Christianity. Most who read these books do not read them because they are Christian. They read them because they want to KNOW about Christianity as a religious entity. Please, I urge you, pray that the WORD run SWIFTLY through this nation and pierce the hearts of a people.

I have lived in this country for more than a decade and I tell you with full conviction, if there is ANY nation on earth that could, in the blink of a moment turn to Christ, it would and will be Japan . I believe that that time is NOW."


And I received an email from another friend with a link to a precious prayer (on Desiring God) for the people of Japan. What a great template as our families lift up this situation and these people before the throne of God:



Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. We cover our faces and kiss your omnipotent hand. We fall helpless to the floor in prayer and feel how fragile the very ground is beneath our knees.

O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment—in the twinkling of an eye—we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh. We have bodies and homes and cars and family and precious places. We know that if we were treated according to our sins, who could stand? All of it would be gone in a moment. So in this dark hour we turn against our sins, not against you.

And we cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy.

Have you not encouraged us in this? Have we not heard a hundred times in your Word the riches of your kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not a thousand times withhold your judgments, leading your rebellious world toward repentance? Yes, Lord. For your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts.

Grant, O God, that the wicked will forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Grant us, your sinful creatures, to return to you, that you may have compassion. For surely you will abundantly pardon. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus, your beloved Son, will be saved.

May every heart-breaking loss—millions upon millions of losses—be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ. You are not unacquainted with your creatures' pain. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all.

In Jesus you tasted loss. In Jesus you shared the overwhelming flood of our sorrows and suffering. In Jesus you are a sympathetic Priest in the midst of our pain.

Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them.

And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head.

O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face.

In Jesus’ merciful name, Amen.