Epic Times Require Epic Prayer

Pastor Steve Holt’s Thoughts on the Colorado Fires

In the spring of 1940, the Nazi regime controlled almost all of continental Europe.  On May 10th, Hitler launched his forces against France and Belgium. The assault was over in two weeks and the British army found itself trapped and encircled in the small port city of Dunkirk. 

The British army was stranded, outnumbered, outgunned and the only salvation was a full evacuation over theEnglish Channel. This successful withdrawal, in which almost every soldier was saved, has been well documented through countless books.  It is described as the ‘miracle’ of Dunkirk and Winston Churchill himself called it “a miracle of deliverance.”

A few months later on August 13, with Nazi attacks on the British airfields and radar stations, the Battle of Britain had begun. These attacks on the airfields continued until August 24 and the RAF (Royal Air Force) suffered greatly. Almost 25% of their pilots were lost then and, if the Germans had continued these attacks, the RAF would surely have been destroyed. But German military leader, Goering, then changed tactics, switching the attack from the airfields to the control centers, which sustained major damage, severely compromising the command infrastructure.

On September 7, the Blitz began upon the population center of London. German bombers appeared in force over London and for the next fifty-seven nights, night-time raids pounded Britain’s cities in an attempt to break the will of the British to fight. Not only did the spirit of the British people remain unbroken, but it could be said that the spirit of the German leadership is what suffered.  Hitler and Goering suspended operations and the English were given time to reorganize and regroup.  

Something had changed and something had happened that didn’t make sense in both cases.  When one reviews the facts and studies the history of that year, the two momentous events were the “miracle” of Dunkirk, and the amazing halt of bombings in the Battle of Britain. But, there is one thing that ties the two together, that is, for the most part, overlookedin our history books – the unprecedented decision made by the reigning royal, King George VI, to call the whole nation to prayer. This he did two days before Dunkirk and seven days before the Battle of Britain.  Churches all over England were packed as people flooded to their respective parishes and cried out to God for deliverance.

Epic times require epic prayer.  Colorado Springs is in an “epic time” to quote our mayor, Steve Bach. And now is the time for epic prayer.  Never has our city experienced such devastation.  The past twenty-four hours have been epic in our city as the Waldo Canyon fire has spread from the mountains into Colorado Springs.  Hundreds of structures have burned to the ground.  Over thirty thousand people have evacuated with tens of thousands more evacuating tonight.

Jesus gave us one of the most unbelievable promises ever given to humankind when He said in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened.”  He knew that we would face situations in our lives that required divine intervention.  He understood the frailty of our lives.  Jesus knew that we would experience times when, without His power, we would be doomed.  So He gave us this promise accompanied by a provision.  The provision of prayer.

Last night and this morning at Mountain Springs Church, we cried out to God for an epic move of His hand of deliverance upon our city.  We cried out for rain.  We cried out for His hand to move.  We cried out for His power to be released upon our city, firefighters, our city leadership, and over nature, that these unprecedented fires would be extinguished.  Even as we prayed the rains began to come, but not enough.

Men and women, let me challenge you to join us in prayer.  All of us have been touched by this epic event. We all know people who have lost homes, been evacuated, or are packing their homes due to pre-evacuation notices even as I write.  Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, stop and pray.  Gather your family, your church, your small group together and pray.  Now is the time.

Epic times require epic prayer for epic results!  Join us in prayer today.

Pastor Steve