Pray Without Ceasing: Three reasons to pray for an end to the global hunger crisis

As the world’s leaders prepare for the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, Odoi Odotei writes about the importance of prayer to shape our minds, will, and hope to end the global hunger crisis.

This September 2023, World Vision will join leaders from around the world at the UNGA in our combined effort to address the growing global hunger crisis.  As we consider this present reality, we could quickly and easily be overwhelmed by the challenges affecting the world’s most vulnerable children.  Still, whenever anxious thoughts fill my mind, I am encouraged to remember what Oswald Chambers once said: “We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” [1] 

As followers of Jesus Christ, World Vision leaders and staff have confidence in the power of prayer.  We know, deep down in our souls, that our prayers to God are an essential discipline that will inform our service and advocacy.  We can do nothing without God and the prayer that connects us to Him (John 15:5). We must continually remind ourselves why prayer is not only fundamental but essential.  Why do we pray?  Here are three reasons for prayer:

• Prayer shapes our minds

The challenges facing the world’s most vulnerable children are far too complex for us to believe that mere knowledge is the answer. As we seek God in prayer, our minds our transformed, allowing us to adopt the perspective and will of God (Romans 12:2), giving us peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).  God both emboldens and stills our minds through prayer.  As we pray, we let go of faulty hubris and embrace bold humility, realizing our God can and will accomplish the miraculous—in and through us.  Can there be any greater blessing than to have our minds in sync with the mind of God—the creator and sustainer of the universe?

• Prayer shapes our will

The gravity of the hunger crisis is immense.  We must freely admit that we do not have the power or wherewithal in ourselves to address the challenges.  But God does!  We are assured that, through prayer to God, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and even shapes the communication of our deepest longings—desires that we can’t even begin to articulate (Romans 8:26).  As God works in our spirit through our intercessory prayers to Him, He gives us the will and the strength to do what we—in our flesh—could never accomplish on our own (Matthew 26:41).

• Prayer shapes our hope

Prayer extends our vision—leading us to see a beautiful future that lies beyond our present circumstances.  Prayer reminds us of the primary source of hope – our Creator God, who is actively transforming His creation, increasing our belief that He will restore and redeem every life on the planet.  Prayer enlightens the “eyes of our hearts” that we may truly know God’s hope and what He has planned for His children (Ephesians 1:18).  We see, through prayer, God’s revealed future for humanity:

Where every tear from every eye will be wiped away; 
Where there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain; 
Where everything will be made new!  (Revelation 21:4)

This is our hope.  This is our promised future.

Can trouble, hardship, persecution or even famine separate His children from the love of God (Romans 8:35)?  God promises that those who pray—those who turn from evil and turn towards Him—will hear from Him, experience His forgiveness and witness the healing of their lands (2 Chronicles 7:14).  We must remind those who are suffering now from hunger and malnutrition of this truth.  Through the power of prayer—and the power of God in us—we will have the strength, will and hope to see an end to this crisis.

May each of us “pray without ceasing, [giving] thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). 

Amen.

You can register for the upcoming UNGA prayer service on 18 September in New York City or watch it virtually at World Vision at UNGA.  Also, you and your church congregation can participate in the upcoming Weekend of Prayer and Action Against Hunger on 14-16 October. Learn more from World Vision International.

Odoi Odotei is the Interim Partnership Leader, Global Faith & Development at World Vision and has served as a Christian community development practitioner for two decades.

[1] Keep Your Eyes on God ~ not your difficulties | everyday encouragement