WORLD LIFE OF PRAYER

May 6 was the World Day of Prayer. We must be a world that lives a life of prayer. Calling on His name one day out of the year, then setting Him aside, is what has gotten us to this desperate point. We must live a life of prayer if we want to see real change, if we want to be people of prayer, people of God. There are two expressions of prayer, openly and quietly.

At UMW Assembly 2010, we sang a song using the words and music from the South-Sudan, Africa, Shu-ku-ru Al-lah, nih-na-kul-lu moras-sa-lat - “Let the people know: witnesses are present here,” based on Hebrews 12:1-2. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and we ARE witnesses to the work of Jesus Christ in our lives. If we do not bear witness in the court of the world, to all the wonders of God we have experienced, no one will speak for God in us. We must speak His name through prayer and witness. My witness is, during this present day economy of need, the Lord has blessed me with two opportunities I had not expected. My April experience as Lead Psychologist at the New Castle Correctional Facility followed immediately by an opportunity to work as a visiting psychologist in a nursing home, one for now with the potential of others. I had not planned nor sought either opportunity for work and service. The Lord simply called me there. Praise be to God for His gifts, grace, mercy, and love!

Today, let us also commit ourselves to a wonderful adventure, the life of an intercessor. Our talk with the Lord must not only be an annual event. We must lead a daily life of prayer, for our families, others, our country, the world, and yes, for ourselves, for guidance that we may live our lives for Him. Both expressions of praise and prayer, Witness and Intercession, are our only reasons for being and the secret for living that has been sought! Let us pray:

“Father God, how precious is your name above all names. May Your kingdom blossom in my life that I may live and move in You and You in me. For this very day, oh Father, I pray to step outside my place of comfort and speak up for you, to witness truthfully to all you have done for me because my experience is the only non-hearsay testimony I have to offer. I also lift up in intercession, our country and our world. Forces have been boiling beneath the surface of this freedom loving land you gave us to erode the strong foundation it was built on, Your Word. Your name has nearly disappeared from conversation in Europe but You are still there and Your people still pray in Your name. We lift them up to the bosom of Your loving arms. Forgive us all when we have neglected to honor You. For this we are utterly ashamed and re-pledge our oath of loyalty and love to you. To You we attribute all honor and praise, Father God. We can do nothing of Kingdom-value on our own, for we do not hold the key to the door of Heaven, Your son Jesus Christ does. Through his name and by the power of his son-ship to you we pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”