One of the biggest lessons I am learning is not compare myself, but to be myself. In today’s world we are constantly bombarded with images of what we should be like, what we should look like, what we should have, who we should be. From magazines, to TV commercials, to advertisements on the Internet, to people we talk to, it always seems like we are never enough and we always need to measure up to others. But is what the world declares as successful our success? Is what society says we should be like, act like or look like be our standard? Or is what other people are doing what we should be doing? I fail to differ…

My whole life I was always compared to others around me. My parents thought I should be smarter like my sisters, my friends thought I should be cooler like the other popular guys, my peers in the music industry thought I should sound more like this musician or that other band, etc. The list goes on, I lived in a world where I was constantly feeling pressure to be everyone else but myself. Our culture shouts to us everyday to conform to the popular norm, but this may be the biggest deception to truly finding ourselves.

If we want to find ourselves and find our purpose in life, we first have to realize that each of us are completely and utterly unique. I am not like you, and you are not like me. My thumb is the only thumb that will ever have the marks it has, my face is the only face that will look like mine, and my life is the only life that can be lived by me. So what does that make you and what does that make me? It makes us “you-nique.” Each of us is not only special, but each of us are one of a kind. The greatest deception is to try to live your life to be someone else and in the process lose yourself, and lose who you may have been to the world.

You are the greatest gift to the world. Yet, so many times we play ourselves down. We feel like we are not good enough, not beautiful enough, not capable enough, or smart enough because we are always told we are not enough, but this is a lie and not the truth. You are enough, you are called to be you and not somebody next to your, or the person you read about. It’s okay to be inspired and challenged by others, even influenced by others in a positive way, but it’s not okay to try to be another and not be yourself.

We think success is what people make it out to be. Bigger is better. Show me the results. Look at what I have. See what I can do. I’m more beautiful than you! Are these statements true or are they just a perception of what truth should be? I believe that success is something that is unique to each person, never to be compared from one life to another, but to know that success is you following your heart, you being yourself and you doing what God created only you to do. There will never be another one of you or me. So lets stop trying to compare ourselves to each other, but lets be ourselves to one another. This will make the world more beautiful, attractive, creative and innovative. Don’t try to be anyone but yourself… I am happy to be exactly me!

God bless,

Jaeson Ma

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.

Life isn’t always fair. Seldom does life turn out the way we hope it does. When we are young we have ideals and dreams. We believe anything is possible and the world is our frontier to conquer. As we get older, many of our hopes get dashed, our dreams become forgotten and our expectations are shattered. We can’t predict exactly how life will turn out, not for ourselves or anyone else.

Many people I know are frustrated, discouraged, depressed, hurt or bitter at life. When things in life don’t turn out the way we want them to, it’s easy to get upset and lose trust in ourselves and other people. I’ll be honest, through the years although I’ve had many ups, equally I’ve had just as many downs. I’ve had major disappointments in my relationships, my family, my pursuits and dreams, but what do you make of it all?

This past weekend I decided to take a day out and just “drive”. I have the luxury of being able to live around the most beautiful beaches in the world here in Los Angeles California. I decided I would go and take a Saturday to just drive towards Malibu where there is a 27 mile stretch of gorgeous beaches and coastlands. I wanted to just get a way, get alone with God, pray and spend some time thinking about things I normally don’t get to think about.

Normally, I’m so busy doing projects, meeting with other people, or helping other people that I hardly get any time to think about things that are important to me. We tend to push things that are important to us, or things that are too hurtful to think about, or issues we don’t want to confront deep down into our subconscious. We sort of just keep going and going in life when these issues are just too hard to understand or to deal with.

Well, this weekend I was able to get away and “confront the issues” that have been on my heart. I was going to wrestle with them myself and with God. I ended up finding a random beach café on the coastal highway. I was hoping that somehow God would lead me to a quite destination, some secluded beach where I could walk and talk with God. When I felt this strong leading to make this turn into this small entrance to this beach café, it turned out to be the most beautiful and perfect spot! It was a beach cove, with a secluded and quite beach and I could walk for miles on my own with time to myself.

I ended up spending the day walking the beaches, and pouring out my heart to God. I kept telling him all the different things that I wanted, I desired, things that made me disappointed, personal struggles, people who hurt me, and dreams that were dashed. I also shared with Him my hopes, my plans and my deepest wants that not anyone knows of… it was great to just get it out. We need to do that sometimes, just let go and let God take our burdens, we may not find the answers but just knowing that He hears and that He cares is enough.

When I started my walk on the beach my heart was heavy, burdened and weighed down. I didn’t even really know why, but past issues, pains, and hurts just began to surface. I wept, I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I sang, I was still before God and in the end I knew He heard me.

I came to my own peace with God and myself. If I never saw the desires of my heart fulfilled, if I never got those things in life that I really wanted, if things never did turn out the way I would like to have planned, if my hopes and dreams were never realized, I would be okay. Not because I want to be defeated, but because indeed just knowing God, and having a relationship with Him was more than enough. I only asked God for one thing, “Wash me clean of my sins and keep me faithful to the end!” When I die, I only ask that I die with one thing in my heart and that is… integrity.

God bless,

Jaeson Ma

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.

These past few weeks have been so busy, yet very focused. I’m amazed I’m still able to get everything I need to get done with the time that I have in each day. I’m working currently on my new music album; I am also running a media/entertainment company that produces film/TV/music, while also being a pastor locally and internationally. I don’t know how it all works together at times, but somehow I find a way to make it all happen. Trust me, I do eat, exercise and sleep, but you have to remain extremely focused.

I find it hard to stay focused the older I get because with age comes more responsibilities, more relationships and more requests from people to do more things. How do you get everything done in a day? How do we get everything done in a week? I used to find myself wanting to break down because so many people wanted my time, wanted me to do something for them, or expectations and pressures from other external forces would mount up on me. Gradually, through time I have learned how to stay focused by keeping a few disciplines in my life consistent. What I have learned in order to stay focused is to learn how to say no to the unnecessary and yes to the necessary. Second is to make sure I practice time management. Thirdly, is to delegate responsibilities to others.

1)   Learn to say no to the unnecessary and yes to the necessary.

Most of the time, we tend to give ourselves to doing the urgent in front of us, or whatever comes up each day for us to do. This is very dangerous, because if we are constantly giving ourselves to the tyranny of the urgent we will never get done what we really want or need to get done. In one day, you will have someone calling you and asking you for a favor, or someone wanting to hang out and talk, or someone throwing a responsibility on your plate for either today or tomorrow. The question is, “Do you really need to do it?” If you don’t need to do it, it’s simple, don’t.

We can’t be afraid to say “no” to others and disappoint others, because if all we do is constantly say yes to doing what other people want us to do, we will never be able to do what we need to do. That means our dreams, our priorities, our passions get pushed back and never get done. We have to be responsible to ourselves first, before we can be responsible for others. Love yourself before you love another or you will constantly be frustrated.

2)   Make sure to practice time management

Time management is everything for me. I write up a “to do list” every Sunday night before I start my week to map out what I need to get done and when things need to get done. If I don’t have a plan, I plan to fail. If I do have a plan, I plan to win. Because with a vision, with a clear understanding of what needs to get done, both short term and long term nothing will ever get done.

I would encourage each of you reading this to take a basic course in time management and learn to start scheduling in time for things you absolutely can’t do without or are priorities in your life to do. For me, on a weekly basis aside from my business hours, I schedule time to record music in the studio, I schedule time for my recreational acting classes, I schedule time also to rest one day of the week, as well as for key appointments and my own personal time with God daily. I don’t let anything get inbetween these priority items in my life that are scheduled, that way I make sure I get to work on what I love and feel called to do.

3)   Learn to delegate responsibilities to others

The art of delegation is equally important as all the rest of the disciplines. Remember, you can’t do everything! You are only human, not God. That means, there are things that you don’t have to do that others can do for you. This is why we need each other. No person can succeed in this life by them selves. We can only succeed if we enlist the help others. Learn to give to others to do what you don’t have to. I try to practice a principle where if I know someone can do what I’m trying to do, then I don’t do it but practice delegation. With this discipline it will free up more time for you to focus on doing the things you need to get done, not what everyone else wants you to get done.

Stay focused! Don’t get sidetracked with other unnecessary things, but learn with time to say no to the unnecessary, implement time management and give to others to do what you don’t have to do yourself. These disciplines will allow you to focus and stay the course of your calling! FOCUS!

God bless,

Jaeson Ma

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.

When I think of humility, I think of someone who listens, someone who is meek, someone who is a learner, someone who doesn’t think too highly of themselve, yet thinks more highly of others. I think of someone who is constantly serving others, championing others and living a life of selflessness. A person who is not about me, me, me! But a person who is about “you, you, you!” This person doesn’t care so much who gets the credit, as long as the greater good is achieved. Nor does this person try to show off or needs people’s attention, because this person is content with who they are and being faithful to doing what they know is right.

At the same time, I think humility has to do with honesty. I once heard someone say, “Humility is being honest with who you really are.” It’s not denying your issues, neither is it trying to be falsely humble by not acknowledging the truth of who you really are. But humility is a confidence that comes from knowing the truth and not being afraid to acknowledge it or at times even confront it. A humble person is a secure person. One who doesn’t need the praise of man, but only the quite praise of God.

To be humble means:

1: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive

One of my goals in life is to aim to be a humble person. It’s so easy in our society to find our identity in our accomplishments, or what we achieve, what we have or what we know that others don’t. It’s always a temptation to want to get ahead of others, rather than get below another in order to lift them up to a higher height. We as human beings are inherently selfish and self serving. We are also our own gods at times. I find that I always think I am right, I constantly want to justify to anyone and everyone why my way is the best way, and still I struggle with truly listening to others points of view. I really think God has been testing my ability to be humble these days. I won’t get into details, but I haven’t been the best person to those around me lately. It seems the busier I get, the more demanding, more rude, and more inconsiderate I get. Although, each day I am practicing to love others with random acts of kindness, I find it the most difficult to be humble and serving to those closest to me. Many times, we take those people who are closest to us for granted thinking that we know them and they know you, and we can treat them differently, this is not the case at all. It is actually far removed from the truth. In fact, I believe that humility is tested by how we treat those closest to us. How do we treat others each day in the little things? Am I always loving, considerate, patient and serving towards those I serve and work with? Especially those who may be of a lower rank in societies totem pole.

I don’t believe there is anyone who should be seen as under, or over another. Rather, we are all created equal as sons and daughters of the Most High God. Each person deserves value simply because each person is a reflection of the God who created them. So to practice humility, we need to think less of ourselves and more of others. We need to realize it’s not about us, but it’s all about God. We need to listen more, rather than speak more. We need to be learners and realize we can learn something from everyone and anyone. Most of all, we need to learn that when we are wrong, to admit it and not justify it, but willingly accept the truth, make the necessary changes and move forward in faith.

Humility is to make a right estimate of one’s self.  ~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

God bless,

Jaeson Ma

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.

Ever since I started this 365 Days of Love project “to do one act of love each day for 365 days” it has really centered me. What I mean by centered is that each day I come back to appreciate what I have been given. It’s crazy, but each day I somehow manage to find some way to serve another human being. By doing this each day I am able to take the focus off of myself and on to another. Whereas before, much of my day was focused on what I needed to do, what I needed to get done, what did I need to accomplish to meet the goals I had set for myself. As you can see, there was a lot of “me” in my days before.

Yet now, even for just 5 minutes or 1 hour each day I can take time out to help somebody else in need. To do an act of kindness or a simple gesture of love and it has made all the difference in my life. I’m starting to recognize more and more that the world does not revolve around me, but the world is full of life, opportunities, and people to be loved and acknowledged! In fact, the more you give of yourself the happier you become.

As they say, “joy is not in the getting but in the giving.” I find so much more fulfillment now that I am less focused on myself and more focused on others. I think about how in one moment I can be sitting in a high rise, in my own office/desk, with a heater and a personal lap top computer… and the next moment I could be on the street corner meeting a homeless man who has no food, no shelter and no place to lay his head. Or how simply walking up to someone and smiling invokes a smile from them. Or how just taking a moment out of my day to listen to someone else share about their struggles and problems instead of thinking about my own. This way of living changes you. It is changing me.

So many times we are so stuck in our own little worlds. We are stuck in our own pity parties. We are trapped in our minds and we are prone to think about me, me, me…. We can become so unappreciative, so ungrateful and so pessimistic. But when we got our eyes off of our problems and onto others we realize many times that are problems aren’t so bad. When we take the little love that we have and we take a risk to give it to someone else… that action will spread love, spread freedom and spread goodness that will ultimately affect not only the one receiving it but the one who gave it.

I heard it once said, “A man kept complaining about having no shoes until one day he saw a man with no feet!” … Let’s not complain about what we don’t have, let’s not feel pity if we don’t get our way, lets not be ungrateful for anything in life, but rather lets us be thankful for what we do have and give what we have to others each day and by doing so find ourselves.

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.

When I got my first 52’ inch TV screen that came with a Playstation 3 console. I haven’t owned a TV or a video game console for more than 10 years. I haven’t owned one for a reason, simply because I don’t want to waste time. Well, I’m afraid I fell into PS3 temptation this past week. The night we got our big screen TV and the PS3 my room mate, a few friends and I stayed up till nearly 5am playing with the PS3 and surfing the web watching random youtube.com clips. Now, I don’t think there is anything wrong with watching TV, playing video games or randomly surfing the web, but I do believe it can become a distraction if you let these forms of entertainment get in the way of what needs to get done.

The reality was that the next day my roommate and I had to prepare early morning for an important church retreat in the mountains. We were to prepare many things the night before for the event, sadly, we never got to them.  After playing around and wasting time for nearly 6 hours, at the end of our time I looked at my roommate and said, “What just happened? We totally just wasted a whole night and got nothing done!” We ended up waking up tired, mentally drained and distracted the next morning. I told God in prayer that morning, “Sorry for not being a better steward of my time when I knew I had more important things to do.” By God’s grace the church retreat went well and everything happened according to plan. Funny thing was, when we got home we came to find out that our PS3 had broke somehow, maybe this was a sign from God to not play it anymore?

All of us can be distracted in different ways. Whether it is through diverse forms of entertainment or things like shopping extensively, hanging out too late, or just doing unnecessary things. We live in a society today full of distractions. The moment we wake up, we have emails coming in, text messages on our phone, magazines to read, entertainment vying for our attention, people who want us to do things, but the question is “Is it all necessary?” I believe there is a time for everything. There is a time to work and a time to play. There is a time be productive and there is a time to rest. I am not against having fun and recreation; that is needed. But I believe we do need to make sure that we are not wasting time on things that don’t matter when there are more important things to do. If we end up wasting our time on things that get in the way of us doing what needs to get done, I call that a “distraction.”

We need to be focused. We need to make sure that we are good stewards of the time, treasures and talent that God has given each of us while on this earth. Think about it today, have you been faithful and a good steward of your time. Are you wasting time or being productive with your time? Have you been using your money and skills wisely? Or are you spending aimlessly and not developing the skills that you have been give to be a blessing to others? One day we will all be held accountable to how we lived our lives. I want to make sure that I redeem the time, making sure that every moment I have is not purposeless but purposeful. We need to be focused everyday on the things that are important. Get what needs to get done and don’t let distractions take you away from reaching the goal. I like video games, I like surfing youtube.com, but not for 6 hours and then realizing I ended up not getting what I needed to get done, done. Stay focused, lets be productive with each day we are given. Life is short, make it meaningful but not doing things that are meaningless.

God bless,

Jaeson Ma

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.

For a lot of us (myself included) we just don’t know when to stop. Especially when it comes to work. We grow up in a Western culture and society that puts a heavy premium on finding value in what we do and what we accomplish. We are brought up thinking that more we do, the more we are. The moment we stop busy activity in our lives, we lose ourselves and don’t know who we are. In fact, if we are not busy doing something we feel restless, uncomfortable and guilty at times.

This busyness or I don’t know when to stop syndrome has been especially true for me through the years. I have had to work hard at not working hard. Many times, if I am not helping someone, writing an email, responding to a text message, or getting some kind of work done I feel guilty for it. You may ask, “Why?” I think deep down many of us feel like we are nothing, unless we are doing something. That can’t be farther removed from the truth if we believe this about ourselves. As humans, we need to remember that we are not human doings, but human beings first.

The world is not going to end tomorrow if we don’t respond to that email. You will not be more or less of a person if you decide to take a break from work. Life will still go on even if you are not going. I’m learning to take breaks, to find times to myself, to have regular rest in my life because without it I think I would miss out on life. Our lives were not meant to be lived anxiously, worried or with fear. Our lives are to be enjoyed by doing what we love to do, but also remembering to find peace and fulfillment in doing nothing at all.

Recently, I got sick with the flu and I ended up staying in bed for a few days. Honestly, it was the best few days I’ve had in a long while (minus the cold and flu symptoms) because I just laid in my bed, watched movies, listened to music and vegetated in my room doing nothing. I felt recharge, refreshed and reinvigorated after my time sick. I think God had to allow me to get sick to get my attention and say, “Hello Jaeson, you need REST! Go to SLEEP! But don’t wait till you are sick in the future to rest when you need to!”

We need to listen to our physical bodies. When your mind is telling you to “do it” but your body is telling you “to rest”… Trust me, you need to listen to your body first. If we can’t take care of our physical bodies, we won’t be able to do what our minds are telling us to do no matter how self determined we are. Life is to be lived not as a sprint, but as a marathon. God gave us a body as a gift and we are to take care of it, not abuse it. I think I’m going to start learning to STOP when I need to, not feel guilty about it, and even if I have 1000 emails to answer… they can wait. The world is still going to keep spinning, people will keep living and people deserve a little times to themselves!

God bless,

Jaeson Ma

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.

Many of my readers know that I am an advocate for the promotion and culture of LIFE.  I know that it is only by grace that I am alive today after almost having my life taken away from me multiple times. For me, human dignity and life must be protected at every stage and every level. Whether that is protecting the life of an unborn child, or protecting a young girl from being sold into child prostitution, or making sure that every child in this world has food to eat and a loving family to grow up in, life must be protected. In that sense, I don’t see myself as only pro-life which has become a political divider in North America between those who believe abortion is wrong and those who believe that abortion is within the choice of the mother to keep or not keep, rather I see myself as whole life. Whole life meaning, if I advocate that abortion is inherently wrong because it takes away the life of a human being who has no will to choose, then I can not just say it is not right, but I have to be able to back up my belief with responsible action. Such as, providing solutions for unwanted babies by promoting and creating more opportunities for adoption, raising awareness and funds to establish more orphanages and schools to educate those less fortunate etc. This is why I financially support an orphan child monthly through World Vision, this is also why I have helped establish a orphanage for specially challenged children in China. We have to do what we can to save lives with what we have, whether that is a lot or a little, it all make a difference in this fight for LIFE!

In other words, abortion is not just the only issue. We can make abortion illegal in the US and other countries in the world, but that means we will have more lives and destinies to take care of as a human society. We have to think not just on one point of issue, but we must see promoting a culture of life as a bigger picture. We have to look at all the issues pertaining to life. We have to see promoting a culture of LIFE as something long term, a whole process, and a issue of responsibility for every human being in this world to have the opportunity to experience value, worth and purpose. Every human being has dignity. We as a human family must do all that we can to help every person have a chance at living life to the fullest, especially those who are facing injustice. This is our responsibility to love others as we would love ourselves.

Recently, my friend Jason Jones a motivational speaker, political activist and father of 4 children launched a website called

www.iamwholelife.com

To be “Whole Life” on the site means to…

The Whole Life ethic acknowledges that issues that appear to be separate such as human sex trafficking, political violence, famine, abortion, female genital mutilation, euthanasia, pornography, embryo destruction and many others are actually related threats to the dignity of the human person.

The Whole Life ethic recognizes that a threat anywhere to human dignity constitutes a threat to human dignity everywhere.

The Whole Life ethic is dedicated to promoting and defending human dignity in all its stages. In the United States the biggest threat is abortion, other places it may be female genital mutilation, famine, forced sterilization, or lack of civil rights.

To be Whole Life is to see every person as an end in themselves, not as a means to an end – we rejoice in the person for the sake of the person, not for what we think a person may do for us.

Everyone, everywhere all over the world needs to value human dignity at every stage and every level. Let’s join the “I AM WHOLE LIFE” movement to preserve and protect the sanctity of human life!

I AM WHOLE LIFE,

Jaeson Ma

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.

On a trip overseas I went to Hong Kong, then Seoul Korea and finally Vancouver Canada to finish my trip. I never thought that my trip would end the way that it did, but I almost lost my life in a car accident. During my whole time in Vancouver, which was only for three days, I had this overwhelming feeling that something life endangering was going to happen. I was there to perform at a mini concert and also preach to students at a local conference. When I arrived in Vancouver the first day my driver almost got into a car accident two times. The second day another driver almost got into an accident on the freeway. I sensed in my spirit something bad was going to happen so I began to pray from the second day onward for my own protection and safety. The last day, as my driver was driving me to the international airport to head back to Los Angeles something incredible happened…

We were stopping at a red light at a major intersection, while I was on the phone praying and counseling a friend of mine, for no reason at all the driver pushed on the gas pedal and crashed right into the car in front of us leaving us in the middle of the intersection with cars passing by. I thought to myself, “Is this happening? How did that just happen?” When I asked the driver what happened, she looked at me with a blank stare almost as if she had no idea how she for no reason floored the gas and rammed right into the 4 Wheel pick up car in front of us.

Cars began to swerve and honk behind around us as we were completely blocking the entire intersection. All I could think of at that moment was, “Thank God I’m alive and I think the Devil just tried to kill me!” Now, whether you believe in angels and demons, or heaven or hell, God or Satan’s existence I can declare one thing as emphatically true. That is, life is short and we must make the most of each day we are given.

Life is unexplainable, unpredictable and unexpected at times. We don’t know if we have tomorrow, we don’t have yesterday all that we have is today. We must make the most of what we have. Honestly, I don’t know if I will live till I’m 90 years old with grey hair and enjoy wonderful family line. I wish I could predict the future and say that for sure I would be able to experience all the good things in life that I hope and dream for; a marriage, a family, a good life etc. But what is a good life? I don’t think our lives consist of the quantity, as in how long we live, but rather our lives are determined by the quality of how we lived each day. Did I love today? Did I do what was right today? Did I help the person who needed my help today? Did I listen today? Did I sacrifice today? Did I enjoy today each moment that I was given? Whether that was with my family, my friends, or with a stranger I met at the super market. Our life can be here today or gone tomorrow. We don’t know what we are going to get. But one thing I know is that life is to be cherished, it is to be lived in the moment and it is to be remembered for each day that it brings.

Many people complain about the lives they are given. Some of us are born into ideal circumstances, but others of us are born into horrible circumstances. To me, it’s not where you were born, or how you were raised, it is what you become and what you learn from your experiences that makes life meaningful and significant.

Only a short while ago I almost died in a car collision in a random city called Vancouver, Canada. My life could have been gone and ended in one instant. The question is not whether I fear death. I don’t fear death, because I know my life will live on in eternity. I have peace with God, but the question is when I die whether today or tomorrow or 50 years from now… will I be ready to die? Would I have done all the good I could have done with the life that was given to me? Would I have fully lived to the fullest that very day that I was taken away back to heaven? What about you… if you were to die tomorrow would you say you have done what was right, true and enjoyed your life with no regrets? I hope all of us live for today, seize the day and do the best we can with what we have… today!

God bless,
Jaeson Ma

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.

I was in Jerusalem Israel for an international convocation with over 3,0000 Christian Leaders around the world gathering to pray for the nation of Israel. I was speaking to many in this small but important nation about how Israel is important to not only God, but to the Asian nations. Why should we pray for Israel?

As a Christian pastor, it is very important to understand why Israel plays such a significant role in God’s ultimate purpose for the world. Many times, you may wonder why such a small nation, can have such great impact? You may wonder, why every time you turn on the news (BBC, CNN, etc) it always seems that Israel is in the news again, in the midst of religious, political or military conflict. You may wonder, how such a small percentage of the world’s population can have so much influence and authority in the areas of economics, sciences, education, arts & entertainment, politics and government, to philosophy & religion. I believe this is not by mere coincidence, but it is because in the Bible, God has favored the Jews as His chosen people to show the world His love and promises. God chooses to take the weak things to show Himself strong.

If you look at the history of Israel through God’s perspective, it is quite astounding to see how a little people group, has been able to overcome so much trial and tribulation.

ISRAEL THROUGH GOD’S TELESCOPE
1. In November 1947, the United Nations recognized Israel’s right to renew
Statehood after a world-wide dispersion of almost 1900 years.
2. Israel has been preserved through immeasurable persecution while scattered among the nations, and (as a re-gathered nation) through several intensive wars aimed at her destruction.
3. The most frequent Bible promise concerns Israel’s physical re-gathering and spiritual restoration. For this to happen in 1947 was a incredible fulfillment of Biblical prophecy e.g. Deuteronomy 4:27/31, Hosea 14:4/7, Romans 11: 24/29 and Acts 3:21
4. Israel is assured of the coming prime position amongst the nations according to the Bible. (cf. Isaiah 60:1/3, 12/14, 62:1/2, Jeremiah 31:7)

7 REASONS WHY WE NEED TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL

1. GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ISRAEL
“You are My servant; O Israel, I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 44:21)

2. WE HAVE ALL BENEFITTED FROM THEIR STRUGGLE
“Because of their transgressions, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel
envious.” (Romans 11:11)

3. WE HAVE A CONTINUING DEPENDENCE UPON THE PAST, PRESENT AND
FUTURE OF ISRAEL
“Consider this: you do not support the root, but the root supports you.” (Romans 11:17)

4. GOD LOVES ISRAEL – WE SHOULD TOO!
“Israel … I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31: 1/3)

5. GOD CALLS US TO SHOW MERCY TO ISRAEL
“That through your mercy they also may receive mercy.” (Romans 11:31)

6. GREATER BLESSING IS PROMISED THE WORLD THROUGH ISRAEL
“For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15)

7. REPEATED EXHORTATIONS IN THE BIBLE TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL’S PEACE & SALVATION
“My heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”
(Romans 10:1 NIV)

“PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM! MAY THEY PROSPER THAT LOVE YOU.” PSALMS 122:6

We as Asian people of faith need to pray and support Israel, not politically, but spiritually. I am not writing this article for political reasons, but spiritual and humanitarian reasons. It was during World War II that many cities in China, Shanghai etc were made “cities of refuge” for despondent and exiled Jewish refugees who were escaping and hiding from Nazi Germany genocide of their people. I believe because the Chinese opened their hearts and homes hospitably to the Jewish people that it is one of the reasons God is blessing the growth and success of China’s nation today. When we show love to our neighbors, it is an act of love and an act of God. With the rising tension in the Middle East and the possible bombing of Israel from nuclear weapons in Iran, we must pray for this small, but powerful nation to be protected once again by God’s sovereignty.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Shalom,

Jaeson Ma

“Blessed is the nation who God is the Lord.”  — Psalms 33:12

Reference Notes: www.prayerfori.org “7 Reasons to Pray for Israel”

For the Chinese version of the article please click here.