The Cordillera Prayer Network: A Personal Experience

(Article published in The Cordillera Intercessors, 1:1 October 2007)

Behold how good it is for brethren to pray together in unity! This is my experience—and, I believe, of other spiritual leaders also who joined—in a weekly prayer and fasting with CPN. Unlike in most discussions on personal, church, or denominational programs, one thing I admire with CPN is the dialogue for God’s agenda. Herein, seeking God’s purposes and plan, not personal interests, are the main concerns. Moreover, this is where listening to what God wants becomes a joy. It is, indeed, an experienced dialogue.

This is the missing link of prayer and fasting. Some of the misconceptions revolve on the shallow understanding of prayer as monologue and fasting as means for physical cleansing. These wrong notions on God’s design for prayer and fasting led to an almost derogatory and unworthy idea of this act of worship. It becomes a ritual, not a relationship anymore. The good learning attitude of Christ’s disciples is instructive here.

“Lord, teach us to pray.” Prayer and fasting go together. The biblical principles behind such worshipful acts are to humble ourselves before God. For the more we see God’s nature and glory, the more we realize our human vanity. In prayerful fasting, we submit our will to God, we obey His commands, we declare His revealed will, and claim His promises. Thus, the ultimate goal is not to change the mind of God or manipulate Him, but to align our visions and plans with His kingdom purpose. That’s the supremacy of prayer.

No wonder when we pray and fast, we can experience God’s power and presence. Both are essential for the healing process of our humanity to become like Christ. It is, therefore, a need that we remember Christ’s suffering for the lost and through prayer and fasting we have this shared-experience with Him. Through this, we can take time to enjoy His intimacy in prayerful fasting. Then God prepares us for His plan for the future

I observed: there is no such thing as real revival apart from those who fervently prayed and fasted ahead. In every breakthrough, there were those who walked the minefields to the lead. The same is true in the Christian history of revival. There were firebrands, pacesetters, and forerunners of God who marched the battlefield. Sometimes, they were unknown persons, but celebrities in heaven. Today where Christ’s greater body is more enamored with personalities, human systems, powerless programs, and cheap marketing tools and trends, the call for the body of Christ to fast and pray becomes a necessity.

In CPN, this call is being answered. What are degrees, deeds, development plans, dynamics, and denominational IDs apart from prayer and fasting? What is position without prayer or face-value without fasting? There is even much business meetings than bending on knees! God’s house becomes a marketplace, indeed. I pray CPN remains faceless and open community of faith whose love for the Philippines becomes a passionate affair with God. For that, we must remain faithful as God’s family members and equals in relation to one another. Then God’s fruitful blessings for being united in prayer and fasting continue to dwell with us.

I have a dream. I dream that day will come where every spiritual leaders of Christ’s church in the Cordilleras will all humble themselves in united prayer and fasting, laying down their ministry accessories, and calling upon the Father for the revival of this nation; and the body of Christ in Baguio and La Trinidad City will set the place for this momentous event. Yet, that dream will remain as such when walls of personal power struggles prevailed. Then two things remain to break down those man-made strongholds: prayer and fasting.

Two years passed and God’s approval was made manifest in answered prayers. I’m joyful in our journey together as brothers and sisters in faith and prayer. Mabuhay and CPN!