Does Prayer Make a Difference for AIDS?

Does Prayer Make a Difference for AIDS?

by Jyl Hall, Acting on AIDS

The AIDS crisis does not just involve disease and sin issues, but also dire needs that require a response: hunger, migration, sex trafficking, child soldiers, globalization, and often broken governmental systems. These issues require action socially, politically, and economically. It is easy to neglect prayer as an effective, powerful spiritual response.

To address the global AIDS pandemic, we can respond in many ways through action, through advocacy, through giving, and through prayer. Prayer is often perceived as a powerless religious ritual, but scripture consistently describes prayer as an action that changes things. Prayer is the foundation of hope for those fighting and those affected by the AIDS pandemic, but we must first believe that is it significant and strategic. Prayer is effective to heal injustices, to dismantle spiritual strongholds, and to petition for workers to the harvest.

Background

There are many facets of spiritual and structural iniquities that allow for the proliferation of AIDS. Ninety-five percent of all cases of AIDS occur in the developing world, and, most often, this disease goes hand-in-hand with poverty. This is increasingly true in the U.S., where HIV is spreading most rapidly among poor communities. If we believe God’s mandate to care for the poor and to love our neighbors, then His followers must vigilantly respond. There is a desperate need to pray for hope, healing, and workers to help in the AIDS pandemic.

Connecting With God's Heart

The world is in a crisis that has orphaned and widowed more individuals than any single phenomenon in history. By connecting to the heart of God for the individual and for the world, we can gain a greater perspective of God’s presence and activity on earth.

The driving hope behind collective prayer for the AIDS pandemic is the knowledge that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:6). Prayer not only aligns us with God’s heart, it can also change things.

Within a community, times of prayer for global issues can enrich our relationship with God and increase our knowledge of his character. I used to think that prayer was burdensome because my basic understanding of God was that I was only an errand runner or a robot created to carry out his will. Struggling with this perception of God leaves most spiritual acts, such as prayer, or scripture reading, or service, completely exhausting. I became exhausted by my spiritual life because my response was based in my own strength and motivated by fear and duty.

Learning that God calls us his love (Isaiah 43:3 and 54:10; Song of Songs 1:15, John 15:9) rather than his slave, it becomes much easier to pray. God asks us to pray for others because he loves to be with us, while we are working or praying. The more we see God’s heart for us, the easier it is to see his heart for others.

For seemingly hopeless situations that seem to be beyond prayer, beginning to pray for the issue helps us move from avoidance to hope and a loving response.

God’s heart is for fellowship with each of us, so he calls us to care for those on the margins of community who are furthest from fellowship with others. In prayer we are connected to God, who in turn blesses others through us, supernaturally fulfilling both aspects of the two greatest commandments. Tom Skinner, whose life was spent promoting racial reconciliation among white and black folks in America, once said, “God has always been the answer, but he has always been the answer through somebody.”

The Motivation for Prayer

The desire and ability to pray comes from God’s spirit living inside of us. Based in your own energy and initiative, prayer is exhausting and unfruitful. By becoming familiar with God through prayer, we connect deeply to God’s will and desire. Scripture says that Jesus lives forever to intercede for others (Hebrews 7:25). It’s not a light thing. It’s the very thing that Jesus lives forever to do!

Many movements of great social change began with movements of prayer. Ask God to give you a small step to begin interceding on behalf of the AIDS pandemic, issues surrounding it, and those affected by it. Consider doing so personally and with your Acting on AIDS group. This time is guaranteed to be effective and will greatly bless you in return.