Elijah Jia: Day of Prayer Reflection

 

EAST held Worldwide Day of Prayer on 24 March 2026, Wednesday. Below is a reflection by Elijah Jia, a graduating student.

Day of Prayer Reflection (Elijah Jia)

This year, I participated in the Day of Prayer, just as I did last year. At the beginning, I was shocked by the videos of war and suffering around the world. I could not hold back my tears. It felt very different from simply reading the news; I felt a deep worry for those suffering and prayed that God would save them.

I have often struggled with the command in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to pray for all people and those in authority. However, during the event, I felt a powerful desire to pray for the world.

I was also strengthened by the short message on why we should pray. As an ambassador for Jesus Christ, I am called to be a mediator between humanity and God.

I was challenged to think about my reaction when reading the newspaper: Did I believe the situation would change just because I gathered more information? Or did I believe it would change if I prayed in Jesus’ name? Clearly, it is the latter. Yet, my past actions showed that I did not truly believe in the power of prayer. This is an area where I need to repent and be renewed.

Finally, I am grateful to be in such a multicultural environment. My classmates at EAST come from at least 11 different countries. There were eight tables dedicated to different regions and issues, each with someone sharing their country’s specific needs. This process touched me far more than reading world news alone. I realize now that I need this kind of community to help me grow in intercession.

Anyway, the Day of Prayer was a powerful reminder to go deeper into my spiritual life, and I truly hope to join again next year.