God's Glory Church

The Concept of the Prayer Marathon: A Lesson from the Prophet Daniel

In our spiritual life, we often encounter periods of silence when answers to fervent prayers are delayed. However, the Word of God reveals to us an important secret of the spiritual world through the experience of the prophet Daniel. After mourning and fasting for three weeks, he saw no visible change, as the scriptures state:

“I did not eat my favorite food, I did not even put meat or wine in my mouth, I did not anoint myself with incense until the three weeks of days were over” (Daniel 10:3).

But the spiritual reality turned out to be completely different. The Angel of the Lord, appearing to him, spoke words that should become a fundamental encouragement for each of us:

“Do not be afraid, Daniel, for I have from the first day that you decided to understand, humbling yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and because of your words I have come” (Daniel 10:12).

The main truth is that God gives an answer at the very moment when we make a decision in our heart to humble ourselves and cry out to Him. The problem is already solved in heaven, but on our earthly level there is a time interval (timing) that is different for everyone: for someone it is three days, for someone it is years. Our task is not to stop, run this marathon of faith and fulfill the commandment “pray without ceasing”, because the time of the answer is known only to the Creator.

Stand in the breach for the servants

We live in difficult times when everyone is tempted to withdraw, move away or hide from the challenges of society. However, God sovereignly placed His people right here to shine in the midst of darkness in Ukraine.
We have a shared responsibility for the prayerful support of our bishops, pastors and their families. Even when we don’t see immediate results, the prayer of faith works. We ask for special grace, God’s protection from spiritual attacks, financial support, restoration of physical strength and strength of family relationships for those who have dedicated themselves to serving the Church.

The prophetic calling of the next generation

Turning to the prophecy of Joel, quoted by the apostle Peter, we see God’s unique view of the structure of society:

“And it will be in the last days, says God, I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17).

Human psychology tends to neglect extreme age categories: children and young people often have no real influence on the processes in the state and are forced to reap the fruits of other people’s decisions, and the elderly face domestic disrespect. But God destroys these stereotypes. It elevates the youth and the elderly, giving them strategic importance.

The older generation is called to be a support in prayer and to give wise advice. Instead, the mission of children, teenagers and young men is to become God’s prophets for our country. To prophesy is not simply to predict the future, but to speak God’s truth uncompromisingly to people in authority, neighbors, parents and peers, pointing out righteousness and exposing iniquity.

These prophets will not fly from outer space and come as foreign humanitarian aid – they must grow within our church. We, as the older generation, are obliged to help them experience a personal encounter with the Creator through active services and Christian camps.

The Integrity of Christian Influence: Today’s Challenge

The recent tragedy in Kyiv on Chokolivsky Boulevard, where the driver of a Mercedes drove into an underpass and killed four people, became a painful but sobering lesson for us. The horror of the situation is enhanced by the fact that the perpetrator of the accident in the past (or now) was a church pastor from the currently occupied Kherson region, who had numerous systematic violations of traffic rules and the law over the past year.

This unfortunate incident raises the question of our true influence. We must be the same both inside the walls of the church and outside them. If a person called to save souls brings death and lawlessness with his lifestyle, this is a deep spiritual deformation. We strive to be a Church through which people come to know salvation and not perish. Our daily choices and obedience to the law are also part of our preaching influence.

The Holy Supper: Consecration and Power for Change

The commandment of the breaking of bread takes us back to the events of the Passover Seder, where Jesus established the New Testament:

“When they were eating, Jesus, taking bread and blessing, broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, take, eat this, this is my body. Then he took the cup and, giving thanks, gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new commandment, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28).

These two symbols have a deep practical meaning:

• Bread (Body) is a reminder that the highest price was paid for our salvation. We don’t have a second or third life. We have only one earthly attempt, and the choice is ours: dedicate it to God and service to people or just aimlessly drift with the flow.
• Cup (Blood) is a testimony of the forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation with the Father. Only through Christ we receive the supernatural power to live a holy life and be a blessing to society.

🗓️ Upcoming events and service schedule

Weekly schedule:

• Every Monday at 19:00 — Church-wide prayer service (our common vocation and influence on the spiritual atmosphere).
• During the week – Home groups (time for communication, analysis of the Word and mutual support). Do not miss meetings in your areas!
• Every Sunday at 10:00 — Joint Sunday service of the church.

🙏 Prayer Challenges

Calendar of special events and summer projects:

• June 21 (Sunday) — Anniversary of our sister church in the village of Pustovarivka We invite everyone to support the community of Anna Mykolaivna Gajdarenko. Departure is planned immediately after our morning service, transportation is provided by the church.
• June 22 – 26 (The penultimate week of June) — Children’s “Art-Picnic” in park named after Potapov. Time: from 15:00 to 18:00/19:00. In the program: games, trampoline, creative workshops for children of the district. (For questions about volunteering and help, contact Yulia Koltukova).
• June 29 – July 3 – 5-day children’s camp in the village of Pustovarivka on the theme “Pilgrim’s Journey”. We need prayer support and helpers for the team.
• July 15 – 18 — 4-day tent camp for children, teenagers and young people on the Kyiv Sea. Important: we earnestly pray for good weather without showers. 🔥 1 vacancy for a kitchen attendant is open (opportunity to serve and relax in a friendly circle).