RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

During the difficult days of communism in Eastern Europe, I met some of the most Christ-like people I’ve ever come to know. Many suffered for their faith. Some went to prison. Others lost their jobs. The times were dark and difficult for followers of Christ. Yet, I found a spirit of revival in many of the churches of Romania.
During those times, I preached a series of evangelistic meetings in the southeastern city of Galati. The small church was packed each evening. In fact, Christians weren’t allowed in the main sanctuary. They could only sit in the balcony so that non-Christians would fill the main auditorium. Believers that couldn’t find a place in the balcony stood outside in sub zero temperatures. God moved nightly, and many came to Christ.
A dear Romanian friend, Dr. Titus Coltea, interpreted for me nightly. After the service each evening, we would go down to the river and spend time in prayer. It was so cold that the ground was completely frozen. But I’ll never forget the prayers of Titus one night. “Oh, God, if it takes the blood of the martyrs to bring my people to Christ,” he cried while on his knees on the frozen Earth, “then I want to be the first to offer my blood.”
My two American friends and I were shocked by his prayer. I had never heard anyone pray with such passion for his fellow countrymen. Although Titus didn’t have to spill his blood to see his countrymen come to Christ, others did. God moved mightily in the nation and sent a great spiritual awakening. What happened in Romania was one of the great miracles of the last century. I’m convinced that the revival came because there were people who surrendered to Christ in prayer.
Prayer is vitally important to our walk with God because it’s the practical means through which we surrender to Christ. Paul wrote to believers in Rome, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God– this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1 NIV). This “offering of our bodies” is an act of worship which takes place in the secret place of prayer.
We come to know Christ when we “call upon the name of the Lord” (Rom. 10:13), and we continue to grow in Christ as we daily surrender to Him in prayer. Prayer is the lifeline of the believer. It’s the means by which we enter into the presence of God to worship Him. It’s God’s method of maturing us in the faith.
Surrender to Christ in prayer is simply a response to the mercies of God. Prayer is the communion of two hearts – the heart of God and the heart of man. We can only come into His presence because of His grace and mercy. He’s absolutely holy. It would be impossible to have intimate fellowship with Him outside of mercy. Therefore, the first attribute of God that we come to know is that of mercy. It’s His mercy that draws us into a full surrender of our lives to Christ. Prayer and the surrendered life are inseparable. Prayer ushers us into the surrendered life, and the surrendered life is that which God consumes and uses for His glory. Pray. Surrender. Such a life is an awesome weapon in the grip of the Holy Spirit.