Teach Us to Pray

"Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1 (NIV)

I just finished reading Dr. Christopher Yuan's excellent book Holy Sexuality and the Gospel. It's a book that I might not have picked up on my own, but a good friend and pastor highly recommended it. Written in the same vein as Rosaria Butterfield's Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, this book is more about faith and the gospel than same-sex sexuality.

In 1993 Christopher Yuan announced to his family that he was gay.  Yuan was soon expelled from dental school and became a drug supplier to drug dealers in more than a dozen states. Eventually Yuan was arrested for drug dealing. In jail, he experienced the darkest moments of his life when he was diagnosed with HIV. Lying in his prison cell bed, Christopher Yuan noticed something scribbled on the metal bunk bed above him: "If you're bored, read Jeremiah 29:11." Yuan did and was intrigued by the promise that he found there: "I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." 

Christopher Yuan began to read the Bible more and more. As he did, Christopher realized that he had placed his identity in the wrong thing. Yuan writes, "My biggest sin wasn't same-sex sexual behavior; my biggest sin was unbelief."

Christopher Yuan had a mother who prayed for him and never gave up praying. His mom's "Lord, whatever it takes to bring this prodigal son back to you" prayer was answered in ways far beyond anything Angela Yuan could have imagined. Fasting and praying for eight long years, Angela stormed the gates of heaven for her son's salvation. Angela's prayer was answered when her agnostic gay son turned to Christ.

Upon his release from prison, Christopher Yuan enrolled in Bible college and later, seminary. Dr. Yuan has taught at Moody Bible Institute for over ten years and has a faith and sexuality speaking ministry that has reached five continents. His Holy Sexuality and  the Gospel book dedication reads, "For Mom..this book on holiness is dedicated to you."

Kevin DeYoung, one of my favorite authors, challenges us to pray with these words:

"If all of your prayers came true this week, who would be converted, whose marriage would be restored, what great gospel advance might there be, and what missionaries would be sent out?"

Who and what are we praying for on this National Day of Prayer?

"Lord, teach us to pray!" (Luke 11:1)