Praying with Honest Hearts

I was sitting with Pastor David Wilkerson. We were preparing together for a meeting that would begin in a few minutes and be for a multitude of pastors, leaders and believers from the four corners of Quebec. 

As an interpreter, I always insisted on having this time of preparation and prayer with the guest preacher. There are sometimes such big differences in translating a word from one language to another that it has always seemed essential for me to “review” the message with the speaker. It must be said that Pastor Wilkerson always made it easy for me. I had the privilege of being his interpreter dozens of times in Quebec and Europe. He always had a detailed and powerfully inspired message typed out. He would share with me what he felt he had received from God in prayer for the people gathered. I was frequently deeply touched and even cried while preparing with him before meetings.

That evening was a little different, though. After reading what he had written, Pastor Wilkerson said, “This is not the right sermon. Since I arrived in Quebec, I have been fighting in prayer against a fortress of unbelief. We must bring a message about faith. Let us pray!” A few minutes later, the pastors organizing the event entered the room where we were and found David Wilkerson prostrate, anguishing in prayer. 

As he interceded for Quebec, I heard him confront more than seventy-five years of unbelief with prophetic words, groans and declarations of faith that will forever remain engraved on my mind and heart. 

I invite you to kneel with me at the feet of our Lord and intercede for your own life, for your spouse, your children, your calling, your ministry, your church and your destiny. Like Christ’s disciples two thousand years ago, let us stop pretending and recognize our need for God’s intervention. Let us pray with honest hearts. Lord, increase our faith! 

“The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:15-16, ESV).

^{Claude Houde is the lead pastor of Eglise Nouvelle Vie (New Life Church) in Montreal, Canada. Under his leadership New Life Church has grown from a handful of people to more than 3500 in a part of Canada with few successful Protestant churches.}