How Long Do Prayers Last?

How long do prayers last? What gift of prayer can we give this Christmas that will live beyond our lifetime? We want to give you that gift. A distant family member, after a praying parent went to heaven, came to Christ. It seemed a great miracle because this person appeared impossible to reach.
We are reminded of the words the angel spoke to Mary in Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God."
(Valetta Crumley)
Let's use this time we have to pray for our children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren (born and unborn, even those yet to be conceived).

A New Reality: Brought into existence by our faith.

Cymbala says that “Faith never denies reality, but leaves room for God to grant a new reality.”

Deborahs in the World - over 80,000 - Be one and bring one!

The Number One Reason:

John Townsend shared recently that the number one reason prodigals give as to why they came back and are living for God today: praying moms and grandmas and dads too. Let's not lose heart or be discouraged. This is our charge. During this Christmas, let's love them back home.

Desperta Débora Internacional

Here is a link to a blog with info in Portuguese organized by Hélida Paixão who is the international coordinator for Wake Up Deborah Desperta Débora Internacional

How it all began

It all began in 1995 in Seoul, Korea. … A Brazilian pastor, Pr. Jeremias Pereira, was there for the Global Consultation on World Evangelization. He went to the Seoul Olympic Stadium where the summer Olympics were hosted, and that day, the staggering number of 100,000 young people were recruited for mission service. While hundreds were being commissioned, time after time these young people shared time after time, “I want to thank my mom who prayed for me... I want to thank my mom who prayed for me... I want to thank my mom who prayed for me..."
His heart was deeply stirred: “We need this type of commitment in Brazil from our young people.” Lord, how do we do this? The answer seemed to be: “Begin with the mothers.” So, he, along with his wife, Ana Maria (now deceased), and Pr. Marcelo Gualberto began.

The movement came to be known as Wake-Up Deborah, Arise Deborah.

What it is and how I got involved

Wake up Deborah: Mothers on their knees, children standing.

God has dreams and wants us to fulfill them. God raises people in whose hearts He imprints His dreams. This project of mothers who pray daily for their children for 15 minutes was born in the heart of God and has swept Brazil. Over 65,000 women in Brazil and a total of over 80,000 all over the world are now “Deborahs.”

Wake Up Deborah is a PRAYER INITIATIVE, a call for women to CRY OUT TO GOD to raise up an army of young people full of ZEAL and PASSION for God, warriors with a heart for MISSION and EVANGELISM. The vision is to unite women who have a desire to intercede for this current generation of young people.

Who was Deborah? In Judges 5:7, Deborah arose as a mother for Israel and cried out as a self-challenge: “wake up Deborah, wake up!” And that is our charge: ‘wake up’ and pray for your children: biological, adopted or spiritual.

Any woman who pledges to pray 15 minutes daily for her children (can be in segments of 5 minutes too) and signs up is a “Deborah”. I realize many mothers have done that for years without a ‘title’. There are many Deborahs all over the world. This is presently a way to organize and encourage us. The idea here is to pray: (1) for our children, (2) the youth of our country and (3) to raise mission minded young people who will impact the world for Christ.

I was challenged by the project. I got out of my comfort zone, and called the women who live in the neighborhood I did. I usually have no problems speaking to hundreds of women in conferences or teaching a Bible class, but to get on the phone and talk to people I don’t know, that is out of my comfort zone. But, I did. I called nine women, saying, “this is Laura, you don’t know me, but  I’m having a meeting here in our home for mothers whose children will be taking the college entrance exams. Would you like to come?” To my amazement, they all came. I didn’t know one of them. We met for three years until we moved. A few months into it, a non-Christian lady knocked on my door and asked, “Is this the place here where we pray for our children?” I said yes, come on in! We became close friends and yet today we pray for each other's children.

I have not met a mother yet, Christian or not, who does not feel the need to intercede for her children. Wake-up Deborah. It’s our turn. It’s our time.

Ideas on how to pray specifically for our children - small or grown

PRAY...15 minutes daily

1. For our children’s salvation

2. That our children will love God and His word.

3. That our children will find a desire to be with other Christians and learn to intercede themselves.

4. That our children will wake up to missions

5. That our kids will have the courage to reject all that is not of God.

6. That God will bring about healing for sexual traumas, rejection, inferiority (or superiority) complexes and any feelings that conjure up rebellion.

7. That our kids will confess hidden sins, bitterness and lack of forgiveness.

8. For their schools, teachers, administrators, coaches and others in authority who influence their lives.

9. That God will give them discernment in school that they may be able to filter what is taught that is contrary to God’s Word.
10. That God provide them with physical, mental and emotional health.

11. For their character and personality development. That they may mature in their faith.

12. That there would be peace, respect and understanding among siblings.

13. That God would obliterate social and racial prejudices.

14. That they may be sensitive to the suffering of others.

15. For your kids’ friends.

16. That we (Deborahs, parents…) live a transparent and God-honoring life as examples for our children.

17. That we may deal with each child with the comprehension of individual personalities and differences.

18. For kids in your church whose parents (or one parent) are not yet saved.

19. For broken homes. for children whose parents are separated. That God may give them grace for the brokenness, anger and feelings of helplessness.

20. For your child’s future vocation.

21. For the future spouses of your children.

Become a "Deborah": How to Sign Up

If you want to "sign up" as a Deborah (moms - biological, spiritual or adoptive- who pray daily for 15 min for their 'children'). Please send me an e-mail at edwards@omsinternational.org with your name, address and e-mail.

God bless you! It's our time, it's our turn!