Bishop Harold urges us to fully use, ‘the powerful and peaceful weapon of prayer’
In a message to the Diocese of Down and Dromore, Bishop Harold urges us to fully use ‘the powerful and peaceful weapon of prayer’ as we respond to the ‘big issues in the community and the world.’
He writes:
“The year of 24/7 prayer has been going on now for more than seven months, and I am deeply humbled to see the prayer scroll being passed from place to place. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this continuous prayer. It is an amazing and powerful thing. I heard just this week from one rector who was profoundly moved by the response of his parishioners. ‘You simply couldn’t keep them away’ was his comment!
“God does interesting things during a time like this. I have noticed a couple of specifics. First of all, the overriding comments in the early months were to do with the blessing of being in the presence of the Lord. That is the right beginning. Then, around June, I noticed at confirmations, the number of men in mid–life who had come very dramatically to the Christian faith, and who were giving testimony to that. This is the secret and hidden work of the Holy Spirit, doing things we could never do in our own strength. It is interesting that this is happening at this time of focused prayer.
“I have a real sense of where God wants to take us in this second half of the year of 24/7 Prayer. Might I suggest that we focus at this time in a very outward way on praying for the big issues in the community and the world. The newspaper might be our starting point! Christians at this time will want specifically to pray for our fellow–believers in Iraq and Nigeria who are suffering so terribly because of their faithfulness to Christ. Also the situation in Israel and Gaza. I notice that we find it easier to pray in a more domestic way, and would hold out this challenge for our intercessions in church, our personal prayers and our 24/7 prayer times.
“God has given into our hands the powerful and peaceful weapon of prayer. Let’s fully use it.”
+HaroldDown & Dromore