Daily devotion – the wonder of prayer
Dan 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
Dan 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Dan 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
As you are aware CCSH has its corporate prayer meeting each Wednesday evening. It is the least attended of all our services here at Calvary as it is with most prayer meetings in the western world. However in countries where Christians are persecuted for their faith and subsistence living is part of the human condition, prayer meetings are to capacity.
There are times when I am saddened by the lack of prayer attendance here and in other Churches as well. But such feelings are immature on my behalf and do nothing to assist to see more people desire to pray.
The most important thing is that we do have a prayer meeting, that there are people who attend it rigorously and passionately – our and each Churches prayer saints and warriors. The Lord bless them!
Billy Graham would not hold a crusade in any city where the local Churches did not commit to holding mass prayer meetings prior to his coming and the planned crusades.
C.H. Spurgeon the great English preacher – (19th June 1834 – 31st January 1892) was at one time showing some fellow ministers around his famous Church – Spurgeon was pastor of the congregation of the New Park Street Chapel (later the Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London for 38 years.
Coming near to the end of his tour with these men Spurgeon said, “Let me now show you where the power emanates as to why the Metropolitan Tabernacle is having such an impact on winning lost souls.” Pastor Spurgeon took them down a set of stairs before opening a door to an enormous room at the basement level. In that room at that moment there were hundreds of people on their knees praying!
“Brothers, he said, here is where the power comes from for this ministry!”
I look no more at the limited attendances of CCSH prayer meetings. I employ no false or worldly ‘gee ups’ to attempt to see more people gather to pray.
Now I just enjoy so much, gathering with those who come to do God’s greatest call on our lives and for the work here at Calvary Chapel Secret Harbour, by seeking God for it and its congregation’s behalf.
Wednesday evening prayer will always be my favourite service.
Even alone on a Wednesday evening as was experienced during Covid – ‘we’ that is the Lord with us, we gathered in prayer.
1 Samuel 12:23 As for me, the Lord forbid that I should sin against him by no longer praying for you.