Genesis 19:29 (NLT) But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.

When Abraham and Lot had to part ways, Lot chose what he thought was the best land for himself. He chose Sodom and Gomorrah because it looked good, being very green and fertile. But what he didn't know was that those two cities were inhabited by a people so perverse and evil that they were going to be judged and destroyed by God. However, even though Abraham was separated from his nephew, he never stopped praying for him and for his family. As a direct result of his prayers, Lot and his daughters were saved, even though his wife was not because her heart was bound to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Lot was living his life with his family in a wicked place, and you can be sure that somewhere along the way he realized that he had made a huge mistake in choosing to make this region his home. The people were so wicked there that they even wanted to have sex with the angels that had come to rescue Lot and his family. Lot and his family would have been goners if it weren't for the fact that his uncle, Abraham, was a man who was intimate with God and who was praying for him. Because he did, Lot and his daughters escaped with their lives.

When our friends and loved ones are going through serious trials and troubles, we have the tendency to feel helpless, especially when it involves things that are beyond our ability to do anything about them. While we would love to do something to make a difference, many Christians feel that when they cannot help someone who they care about, they are then reduced to just praying for them. Many lament, "All I can do is just pray." But that is wrong thinking on so many levels. By even thinking that, what you're actually saying is that you are better equipped to handle the situation than God is. In your mind, if you had the wherewithal to do something tangible and physical, that would be so much better than just leaving it up to God. In many people's mind, they don't trust that the Lord will really do something to help their loved ones. They hold out the possibility that He may intervene, but then again, He may not. This explains the feeling of hopelessness when someone says, "I guess all I can do is pray." But according to the Bible and according to our own testimonies, God does things in greater and more powerful ways than we can ever have imagined (Ephesians 3:20). When God moves on someone's behalf in response to our prayers, the results are supernatural and awe-inspiring. Nothing can come close to matching what God can do. So the next time you hear about a friend or loved one who is trouble, don't try to figure things out and then pray when you are out of options, but go to God in prayer first in Jesus' Name, for He will send His angels concerning them to help them (Psalm 91:11). Prayer is our most powerful resource, and it is especially powerful when we obey scripture by praying for others.

Pastor Joey Vazquez