The issue about prayers is not just about asking for things as one particular point will highlight and it’s a good time to remind you that Prayer-Points Plus is still on the way with answers to prayers. For the time being, though here are thus weeks points for prayer.
- Abigail’s Trying Season
I am always in need of your prayers. I don’t share the issues as often perhaps as I should and that is a personal failing that I’ll get over. In the meantime, however, this week has proven to be a good time to make mention of an issue for prayer.
The Dryden Family formation is five-fold – there is Authrine, my beloved wife and myself who are the overwhelmingly pleasing parents of Deborah, Abigail and Zoë. Over the last few months, Abigail has been the centre of a few academic issues that has threatened to cause chaos to our family life. At such a young and impressionable age, these issues could have left a lasting negative impact.
This is a particular prayer point of praise and thanksgiving. There has been news of late that has shown the end in sight to a troubling season. In this, Abigail has really impressed us with her behaviour and growth. Deborah and Zoë have not been adversely affected and have been great supports for her. This weekend we’re celebrating the good news and we want to thank all those who have been praying for her and the family. We are beneficiaries of such loving prayers. This is just to show how prayer works and so although this battle is over, the war for the welfare of our children continues in this world we live in. Please remember Abigail in particular, but all our family as a whole in your prayers.
- Letting Go
Today I was reading more of Thomas Hauser’s brilliant biography of Muhammad Ali and it covered the first fight between Ali and Joe Frazier. When I read of the dreadful way in which Ali sought to degrade Frazier’s character in order to gain support for his cause to get back his title, I can understand why Frazier became very resentful of Ali for that behaviour.
And yet in a week when I’ve been reading of the underpinning values of the Kingdom I note the importance of forgiveness. Traits of forgiveness and being merciful are seen in the Sermon of the Mount and are also reflected in how Jesus extends the Kingdom to the Unlikely Lot – those on the margins, the sinners, the rejected. That calls for us to be able to let go of a lot – our judgements on others, the hurt we have experienced.
I know only too well how hard it is to let go. The hurt is real – the pain is even more real and to just let someone go is not straightforward. It can be easy for old feelings to be triggered by the slightest thing. Yet there is no room to hold on to on the one hand bitterness, resentment and anger – basically unforgiveness and on the other hand hold onto the loving, merciful, compassionate hand of a loving Father who has forgiven us of so much. Please remember this issue for yourself and your loved ones struggling in this area in your prayers.
- Multiculturalism and the Church
Last week David Cameron made a speech in Munich, Germany on the need for a strong response to Islamic extremists in this country. The speech gathered a lot of reaction from people. Some lauding it as a good time to put to bed the so called myth of multiculturalism. Others decrying a statement that has got backing from far right groups in the country like the English Defence League.
We could get caught up in claims of identity and national pride whilst missing what lies beneath in terms of what the debate says about values that matter to us. I know it is not always popular to talk about Kingdom identity over national identity, but this has got to be the case in terms of a compassionate Christian response. That means we are looking at appreciating people’s cultural identity in as much as it defines them but not believe that any cultural identity will be in anyway superior to another.
Making peace among communities is a tricky issue. Integration has its challenges. Assimilation has its problems. Segregation is unpopular. Multiculturalism is also panned. Never more has there been a time for true Christian community to show God’s idea of the alternative based on seeing people in His eyes first and then learning about how to live with each other. The prayer point then is the challenge for the Christian community – in itself still beset by cultural and spiritual issues that sees ‘black majority’ versions and ‘white majority’ versions – to live up to the Kingdom responsibilities. Please remember that in your prayers as we engage in the larger political and cultural issues around us.
The power of prayer cannot be underestimated, please do what you can to make your requests known to God whether they are those mentioned here or your own. Feel free to share, so that together we can see more of the fruit of being in line with God’s desires for this world..
Have a great weekend.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 