 For the month of July, Bishop Paul has encouraged all churches to have a special prayer focus. (You can watch his short video HERE) Over the next four Sundays we will focus on: the importance of prayer, prayers of lament, prayers of repentance, and biblical prayers to help us draw closer in relationship with God.
I am beginning this month with a prayer retreat. As I write I am sitting in my house in Hurstbridge with the woodfire going, enjoying intimate fellowship with our amazing Lord; leaning into this beautiful relationship and seeking His wise counsel. It’s easy to do that here as I was completely dependent on the Lord back when I lived as a single parent raising my three children in this house (many amazing memories!). It’s a place where "I know the Lord" and "He knows me". It's also easy to pray here as there are no distractions. No T.V. No washing machine. No lawn mower. No cooking apparatus. Just lots of time to spend drawing close to the Lord. I wonder if there’s a place you can go to get away from it all and spend time with your loving father who longs to draw close to you, as you draw close to him. Of course, you don’t need a special “place” to go to draw close to him, as I am reminded today: God is present everywhere in his power, grace and compassion. God says, ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ [Jer 23:24]. 'Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast'[Psalm 139:7-10]. He is always with us and always hears our prayers, answers and guides:'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.' [Matt 7:7-8]. ‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’ [Mark 11:22-24]. Therefore we always ought to pray in faith, just like our Lord Jesus did: 'When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’ [Luke 3:21,22] … But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed … Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God …' [Luke 5:16, 6:12]. Jesus is our perfect role model. Other great role models, examples and instructions for prayer are all through the New Testament, especially in Paul’s letters. E.g: 'We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you … For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.' [Col 1:3,9] '… We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.' [1 Thess 1:2] ' … I thank God … as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.' [2 Tim 1:3] '… Epaphras … is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.' [Col 4:12]. With all these great examples, let us be encouraged to pray! Keep praying for one another and for me. Pray using our prayer postcard, our prayer lists, using other resources, and join us for prayer before, during and after our Sunday services, and on Sunday 16th at 5pm for a special prayer gathering. 'Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests … Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, and pray for us …' [Ephes 6:18, Col 4:2,3].On my prayer retreat today, I am praying for each of you by name. May the Lord Bless you, Rev. Tan
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