Mirëmëngjes Kingdom ambassador! Let your soul bless the LORD and forget none of his blessings (Psalms 103:2). Let your descendants walk on serpents, scorpions and all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Let your house be the testimony of a community and never let humility leave you.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:8-10, NKJV)
In 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that 1.5 billion people had some degree of hearing impairment (Source). According to its projections, this figure will rise to 2.5 billion people by 2050. This means that today 19% of the world's population has a hearing impairment and that this figure will rise to 26% in 23 years. The World Federation of the Deaf estimates that there are over 70 million deaf people in the world today (source). For many, this figure is greatly underestimated because it is difficult to count these populations in developing countries.
People with hearing impairment include those who are hard of hearing (mild, moderate, or severe) and those who are deaf (profound). Hearing loss can be due to demonic oppression (Mark 9:25-26, Matthew 9:32-33), genetic causes, birth complications, infectious diseases, chronic ear infections, exposure to loud sounds, ototoxic drugs, or aging.
For the deaf, hard of hearing or mute people, understanding and being understood is often a daily challenge. Between psychological distress, social isolation, difficulties in schooling and professional integration, the cost of hearing aids, home adaptation, the list is long.
There are over 400 sign languages in the world. The most widespread are American Sign Language (ASL) and French Sign Language (LSF), from which the first originated. Since 2020, only American Sign Language has a complete Bible translation. Only 1 in 400... More than 2000 years after the birth of JESUS CHRIST. The least we can say is that we have a long way to go... Very long.
This morning I invite you to pray for our brothers and sisters in CHRIST, deaf, hard of hearing, and the ministries dedicated to them. Those who are on the way and those who will join them. GOD does not answer eloquent prayers, but sincere prayers, in accordance with His will and declared in faith. Go beyond my words. Let the HOLY SPIRIT lead you and pray as long as He inspires you. Synchronization is progressive, not instantaneous. Begin by praying in tongues. Pray while reading and read while praying.
Wonderful FATHER,
Thank you for the grace of knowing you, the privilege of approaching you,
the awareness of being loved and the assurance of being saved.
Thank you for creating us in your image and likeness.
Whatever our differences and disabilities, we have only one creator: You.
Thank you for the abilities, gifts, talents, peculiarities, sensitivities, and potentials that you have placed in each of us.
Thank you for those things that seem so obvious to us, but are not to so many others.
Thank you for your grace that gives, your mercy that preserves, and your faithfulness that accompanies.
Thank you for the sharing of your Word and the publication of your works.
You are Love, but You dwell in Truth.
You heal the sick, but You desire that they prosper in every way (3 John 1:3).
You have compassion on the poor and you raise up the indigent (Luke 4:18, Psalm 72:13, 107:4).
But You say, " The kingdom of GOD is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy through the HOLY SPIRIT. " (Romans 14:17)
You do miracles and wonders, and say, " Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema) that proceeds out of the mouth of GOD." (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4)
You cast out demons, but You say " you shall know the truth, and the truth (Aletheia) shall make you free " (Mark 9:25-26, Matthew 9:32-33). For it is through it that man is fulfilled and becomes ready for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).
Thus your Word becomes their words, making them ambassadors, lights, messengers, sources of blessings. It is then that your Kingdom is revealed by the Power and ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT through them (1 Corinthians 4:19-20).
Thank you for those who were, are and will be pioneers, headlights and relays.
Thank you for those who assemble, those who build and those who strengthen.
We pray that they all fulfil their mandate.
May the one by whom you feed not despise the one by whom you care. Let him by whom you teach not despise him by whom you perform miracles. And let him by whom you cast out demons not despise him by whom you instruct.
We ask you to fight their battle and to be the banner of their house.
As far as possible, do not allow them to be a source of scandal.
We recommend to you every ministry, church, association, initiative, project in favour of the beloved hearing impaired.
Because gold and silver belong to you (Haggai 2:8), for them we ask abundance.
More advancements and innovations in health, education, film, translations and telecommunications.
You have plans for peace and not for evil (Jeremiah 29:11)
For you gave JESUS for all (John 3:16).
Who better than you knows the rejections, fears, disregard, difficulties, discrimination, and misunderstandings that deaf and hard-of-hearing people face?
You know their needs, gifts and talents.
You know what they know, what they believe, and what they do not know.
On them we invoke the blood of JESUS.
For them we ask healing of soul and body.
For them we ask deliverance, restoration, and social fulfillment.
For them we ask healing and command unclean spirits to leave their bodies.
In the name of JESUS we say: Ephphphata! Ephphphata! Ephphphata! Let the deaf hear!
For them we ask the baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT and the blossoming of gifts.
To them, from North to South, from East to West, we call for ingenuity, opportunities, and divine connections.
In the name of JESUS, we order the reverse of all reasoning that opposes the truth.
They are not less loved, less called, or less gifted than others.
Did the parents of Claude-Nicolas Le Cat (1700-1768), Anne Sullivan (1866-1936) ,and Helen Keller (1880-1968) know that their children would write history?
Heroes write history, but history is read after them.
FATHER, may someone today hear you say:
" I love you. I know you. I see you. I hear you. You are my child. Do not give up.
I am with you. I will always be with you. I will never leave you."
In JESUS-CHRIST, we pray,
Amen.
** Mirëmëngjes = Good morning in Albanian
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