Skip to main content

October 2014 Prayer Column

Image
By
Joseph and his khaki-coloured prayer shawl

Joseph’s story from sneaky, swanky, daddy’s-pet dreamer to practical, protective first lord of Egypt is in Genesis 37-50.  We’re told God was with him, as Potiphar’s slave, and in prison; God tells him what dreams mean, for his fellow prisoners and Pharaoh; and he sees God’s hand in his whole life, from betrayed little brother to family saviour in the famine.  Missing from the record are his prayers, but I think he must have prayed. 
Put yourself in his sandals.  How would you pray when God gave you dreams of greatness?  Or how do you pray about his promises?  Wouldn’t you cry out to God in a pit, hungry, thirsty, bruised and miserable; or horrified as brothers flogged you off as a slave for 20 shekels; or on the long, hard road south to Egypt?  And isn’t it likely he prayed to keep his hands off the boss’s wife when she come-hithered him?  Don’t you need to pray to keep on the straight and narrow when temptation looms?
He must have asked God what those dreams meant.  And when suddenly promoted to government with a famine portfolio, wouldn’t you seek guidance about what to do?  Then as he saw the famine affecting his far-off family, he must have worried (and prayed?) about them.  And when those brothers of his showed up – how to handle that but by prayer!  Similarly how to avoid ethnic strife when his whole clan came to Egypt.

The fact that he saw God’s hand in it all suggests strongly that he did pray, even though so camouflaged in the account that we can see it only in our imaginations.  And I for one imagine also that he thanked God, over and over again, as we all should too (Col 3:17).
Roy Lorrain-Smith


A prayer for each week
Lord of the nations, and also of each person and family, please help us to put our trust in you: utterly, absolutely, always and for everything – through Jesus.  Amen.

Lord of the future, and also of the present, please help us to seek and follow your guidance today, for only you know where the good road runs –  after Jesus.  Amen.

Lord of the unexpected, and also of the everyday and ordinary, please help us see what you are doing, and gladly obey in each opportunity – trusting Jesus.  Amen.

Lord of amazing outcomes, tying together loose threads we could never have matched up, please fill our hearts continually with thankful praise –  glorifying Jesus.  Amen.

Your own prayers



Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For such times as these! - A good news story from Windhill!

By
For such times as these! (Esther 14:14) On June 1st James Stannet (from e:merge , a Christian Youth organisation) began his youth work for Christchurch LEP in Windhill. He says, "Well! June has been a really busy but very productive month. On Wednesday, in the park, numbers are climbing week by week, now averaging 25. Good partnerships have been made with local organisations. this has been a blessing: enabling us to deliver varied sport activities and build good relationships.' 'The Hope Revolution, youth event, based at Christchurch LEP was a massive hit. A BIG Thank you is expressed to the Church for the support, encouragement and prayers. 200 people attended the Fun Day. Despite the rainy weather, 100 young people took part in local projects: two house clear-ups, school garden project (Windhill Primary) and running the Fun Day. 10 Christian Organisations working together resulting in several families requesting Christian children's activities.' ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Circuit Talents Challenge

By
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money ..." Matthew 25:14-30 Why don't you take up the Circuit Talents Challenge by taking a £5 note and making it grow for the Circuit? More details ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Youth and Children - time to Get Set

By
With youth and children on your mind for the 2012 Games, here's three ways to be to be at your best. 1. Sign up for the Youth and Children workshops at Get Set - the day for churches to get ready for the Games. Youth and Children are both among the 11 workshops at our 'Get Set' days throughout the UK. At the ' reach and minister to young people' workshop you will discover: Custom-made resources for school ministry How to engage with those beyond the church through a youth café How sport can play a strategic role in youth At the 'reach and minister to children' workshop you will discover: Custom-made resources for the summer of 2012 and beyond Simple ways to add va-va-voom to reaching children Engaging children in ministry to their friends The vital do's and don'ts when developing a team But don't come alone . The workshop choice will give your church new ideas, strategies, skills and resources to help them well beyo...
Post a Comment
Read more