When it seems all the prayers have been prayed

When it seems all the prayers have been prayed

We pray them again

When words begin to taste stale upon lips, we ask for fresh seasoning and speak them again

When our spirit is willing but flesh sleepy and weak, we reach for the Scriptures reminding us our  battle is against powers of darkness and our flesh needs to submit, get over it and pray on

When things appear to worsen- death tolls rise, protests grow, terror spreads not recedes; When discouragement whispers our prayers are like fruitless trees, we dig in our knees harder and refuse to give up

When it seems all the prayers have been prayed,

we rise up,

we link arms,

and we pray them again

“The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil everywhere. Prayer, in one phase of its operation, is a disinfectant and a preventive. It purifies the air; it destroys the contagion of evil. Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence. It is a voice which goes into God’s ear, and it lives as long as God’s ear is open to holy pleas, as long as God’s heart is alive to holy things.

God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. The lips that uttered them may be closed in death, the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God’s heart is set on them and prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world.” – E.M. Bounds

 “I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain.  As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.” Daniel 9:20-23

 

Day Four:

God, protect the innocent, bring forth your justice- not man’s revenge- upon the wicked, 

Calm the skies, the seas and the hearts of the persecuted and afraid

Unite us Lord, nation with nation sharing compassion and love for one another, drive out hate from our streets and squares,

In all ways make your Name and power known throughout all Creation, we pray today, tomorrow and forevermore,

Amen