The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun

A few weeks ago while at the library, the librarian recommended at book to me. I'm so glad she did! This was by far the most amazing book I've read. It's the biography of a Christian man in China, the persecution of the church there and what it looks like when you follow the advice of James and "consider it pure Joy when you face trials."

Here's an excerpt:

"Once I spoke in the West and a Christian told me, 'I've been praying for years that the communist government in China will collapse, so that Christians can live in freedom.' This is not what we pray! We never pray against our government or call down curses on them. Instead we have learned that God is in control of both our lives and the government we live under. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, ' The government will be on his shoulders.' Isaiah 9:6

God has used China's government for his own purposes, molding and shaping his children as he sees fit. Instead of focusing our prayers on any political system, we pray that regardless of what happens to us, we will be pleasing to God.

Do not pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn't pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure. Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his power and love.

This is true freedom!"

-from "The Heavenly Man" by Brother Yun, pp.286-287.