TUESDAY JUNE 8 2020

TUESDAY 9 JUNE 2020

Good morning friends,

One of the things that happened here at the house last week was the laying of the floor in the new prayer cabin. That means it’s almost ready for use. Just a couple of benches now to be placed, and then it can become another space where folks can go to Be Still and draw nearer to God.

Last week we were reflecting on the actions of the disciples and fellow believers in the days after the Holy Spirit fell upon them on the Day of Pentecost. One of the important things they did was to meet to pray. And so, in this coming week want to look more closely at the importance of prayer in the lives of these men and women, for it is evident that prayer was central to all they did as the worshiping community.

I wonder what your experience of prayer meetings has been?

I remember the very first time I was invited to join one. I was a very new Christian, and I wanted to go to the meeting, but I was incredibly nervous.

I set off from home in plenty of time, but when I got to the church I couldn’t go in. I walked round the block a few times, and come back to the church, saw who was going in and then walked round the bloc a few times more...............then went home. I am sad to say this continued for the next few weeks, until the evening came when the person who had invited me said she would come and take me.................so.......no escape.

We got into the hall and I took my place in the circle, I was warmly welcomed, and invited to join is as I felt able. I have to say I was shaking, and sweating, my mouth was dry and I could not get a single word out. So worried was I that I did not know how to pray, and was worried I might say the wrong thing. However, I was able to join in the closing prayer, The Lord’s Prayer, and that simple prayer began to give confidence as the weeks went on, till the evening I did utter my first words out in the open.

I had a lot to learn about prayer, for of course there’s no right or wrong way to pray. God hears the prayers of our heart, both spoken and unspoken, and even in the times when we don’t know what our how to pray, the Holy Spirit prays for us.

I love the story of the farm worker who was observed by his minister slipping into the back of the church grounds each afternoon for ten minutes or so. One day the minister asked him how he was, the man replied, “och, am fine, just sitting here looking up at God, and He’s just up there looking at me.”

There’s an old song which says “Love is a many splendored thing” I would say Prayer too, is a many splendored thing. We each come as we are before the Lord who knows us better than we know ourselves. The important thing is that we come.............in private or together, let us pray.

God be in my head, and in my understanding;

God be in mine eyes, and in my looking

;God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;

God be in my heart, and in my thinking;

God be at mine end, and at my departing.

God bless you this day. God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at mine end, and at my departing.