Praying and fasting

THERE was some hesitation on my part whether or not to comment on Jan Nissar’s letter of the same name appearing in The Fiji Times on Saturday 26/6.

It was very enlightening to have him reveal why he has such a disbelief in praying and fasting. This was because of his mother’s close friend Tema, in Lautoka. “Tema was a staunch Christian and used to pray and fast all the time,” he wrote. She never went to hospital nor took any medicine.

A few years ago she got sick. She refused to go to hospital stating that her faith would cure her. She clung to this belief throughout her suffering until she died; although in the end she did take medication to ease the pain.

Jan even admitted perhaps this is why he is so against prayer and fasting. It is a pity that this one example had coloured Jan’s viewpoint.

Let’s me say that Christians the world over pray and fast regularly. And many have their prayers answered and some do not. This aspect has many querying the reasons why God does not answer all prayers. We do not know the mind of God. I recall reading years ago of a pastor in England who died despite friends all over the world praying for his recovery. They were very disappointed that their prayers were not answered.

My friends and I have had numerous experiences of people being healed by our prayers but there are some who were not healed More recently at church, I went up for prayers. The pastor did not ask what I needed but just laid hands on me and moved on. But I felt something happen. A growth on my body suddenly disappeared. But the other health issues of concern remained. Who knows the mind of God?

All I can say to Jan is that please don’t let one bad experience colour your judgment when there are millions of Christians who have had their prayers answered through prayer and fasting. God knows what is in your heart. God bless.

NORMAN YEE

Martintar, Nadi