Wise words with...

The power of prayer

‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Well, we have now concluded another busy but productive fortnight at Nowra Christian School. It is a credit to all members of our school community that we have been able to accomplish so many things in the teaching and learning area, given the atrocious weather that we experienced at the beginning of this past fortnight. As you are well aware, this saw us making the decision to close the school on Tuesday 8 March due to safety considerations. This was the second occasion within a two week period that we had taken such action. Once again, on behalf of our NCS staff team, I would wish to thank all parents and carers for your understanding and support as we were required to implement these significant changes to our usual school program.

I often share with you that I consider it to be a great privilege to work within a Christian school environment. One of the very special privileges that this provides is to be able to commence every school day by sharing in a staff devotional time. I am not surprised, but am always grateful, that these sessions frequently provide me with just the verses of encouragement and wisdom that I may need to carry out the daily tasks that lie before me. (I know that this is also the shared experience of every other member of our NCS staff team.)

During this past fortnight, as we have faced the challenges that adverse weather can have on a school community, I was most grateful to be present for a devotional session that highlighted the power and importance of prayer.

I am aware that in a largely secular society, I quite frequently hear people respond with a comment such as, ‘You mean you decided to pray about that situation – you must have been desperate!’ For many in today’s world, prayer exists as a last resort. When we have tried everything at our disposal to solve a problem in our own strength, we have the tendency to look to prayer in a desperate attempt to find a last-minute solution.

However, this is not how God designed prayer. The Bible provides numerous examples of faithful people who prayed continually to God on a daily basis. In fact when asked about the topic of prayer, Jesus provided us with what has become known as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. A close reading of this passage clearly indicates that prayer is not just meant for desperate times; it is designed for every occasion and to occur on a daily basis. (You can read this prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.)

During the devotional session that I referred to above, we were provided with an acrostic for the word ‘PRAY’. (We were also provided with a variety of Bible verses associated with this important topic and I have shared these at the end of my article.) I thought that I would conclude by sharing this acrostic with you as I trust that you will also find it to be personally helpful.

P – PRAISE (This is the first step in an effective prayer.)

R – REPENT (Ask God to reveal any sinful behaviour in your life.)

A – ASK (When asking, ensure that your requests will glorify God.)

Y – YIELD (This involves waiting quietly and patiently before God.)

(Associated verses: Psalm 100:1-4; Psalm 19:12-13; John 31:21-22; Matthew 7:1-11; John 14:13; John 15:7; John 16:23-24; Psalm 37:4)