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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God
Philippians 4: 6 ESV
Welcome to our August 2010 1st Friday Call to Prayer. Our aim is to provide you with teaching that we trust will enhance your prayer experience and will be an encouragement to you. We will also provide you with praise items and prayer requests coming from within ANiC and the Anglican Communion worldwide.
We encourage you to set aside the first Friday, August 6th, as a day of prayer and fasting for the Church in these critical days, ideally gathering with other believers in your parish or region for corporate prayer at some point in the day.
Prayer Quotes
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?
Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
Getting Started
It is remarkable to me that almost seven years have passed since we began sending out this monthly Call to Prayer – first under the auspices of Anglican Essentials Canada and, since January 2009, from the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC). In the few years ANiC has been in existence, we have witnessed the amazing growth of orthodox believers and congregations who have been finding their safe haven within the shelter of this new diocese and our orthodox province – the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). It’s been thrilling to witness!
Through these eighty-three months, we have been striving to grow in our understanding of the importance of prayer, along with some practical instructions on how to intercede for our leadership and how to stand against the assaults of the enemy through spiritual warfare. We have also sought to grow in our sense of intimacy with our Saviour, becoming progressively more comfortable spending time in His presence, without the impediments of guilt and fear.
But you may be a newcomer to these monthly Calls to Prayer. You may be receiving these simply because you’re on the ANiC mailing list, and you have never considered yourself an “intercessor”. Perhaps you’ve thought, as many do, that such prayer was only for the “really spiritual” members of your church, and that couldn’t possibly include you, right? Let me suggest that you may need to reconsider that opinion. Prayer is for everyone in the Body of Christ.
One of the paradigms that we need to radically alter is the attitude that prayer is a Christian duty, one of those “if you’re a Christian, you ought to pray” obligations. It’s not just that you ought to pray, you get to pray! It is an incredible privilege to be able to come into the Lord’s presence on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus and spend time sharing our needs and cares. Can you imagine spending time in conversation with the person on earth that you love most dearly because some rule says you have to? No, it is a joyful experience birthed out of a relationship of tenderness and passionate love.
Another hindrance to fully embracing a life of prayer is the harassing voice of the accuser who shouts incessantly, “Disqualified! God’s not interested in hearing from you! You’re an immature Christian. You don’t even know how to pray, and God won’t listen if you don’t do it exactly right!” Perhaps you remember going to a prayer meeting one time, and all those serious intercessors prayed eloquent prayers in King James English and you felt so out of place? “I could never pray like those folks. Obviously, I’m not an intercessor.”
We need to learn to silence the voice of the accuser by reminding him, and ourselves, that we’re just talking to our Abba, our Father, and that the enemy has no place in that relationship. We need to remember that Abba is not impressed by eloquence or archaic language. No, He is much more interested in the heart motive that brings us to prayer. There are no wrong prayers if they come from a heart that is yielded to the Lord and is seeking to grow in the Spirit. We must not let the label of unworthiness keep us from prayer.
Okay, so how do we know what to pray? How can we tell what the will of God is concerning issues about which we might pray? I won’t try and kid you – it’s not always easy. Learning to discern the voice of God through the myriad of other clamouring voices is definitely a learning process. That is why learning the Scriptures and using them in prayer is so absolutely vital.
The Bible reveals the will and purpose of God to us on so many issues. For instance, we know that the salvation of loved ones who are not yet Christians is definitely the will of God. We can pray for them on the basis of His Word:
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV
We know that we can pray for the “harvest” – for revival to come in our land – because Jesus specifically instructed us to do so. Look at His exhortation to His followers:
And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Luke 10: 2 ESV
Paul asks his readers to pray that the “door would be opened” so that the Gospel could be spread where it has not been shared before. We too can pray that prayer:
At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ.
Colossians 4: 3 ESV
Jesus also urges us to pray for those who hate us, who are actively persecuting us:
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matt 5: 4 ESV
We are encouraged to pray for all those who are in positions of authority and leadership, both civil and in the church: -
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV
There are many other examples in Scripture. A simple study of the word “pray” or “prayer” at www.biblegateway.com will show you many other ways that we are instructed to pray, knowing that these prayers are within the will of God. A phrase-by-phrase examination of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6: 9-13 will provide other insights into what we can pray with full confidence.
In conclusion, may I encourage you to take the risk of praying with others? If there is a weekly prayer gathering or monthly 1st Friday prayer service in your parish, join it. If there isn’t one, ask your rector about starting it. Two or three people praying together can be a mighty force for the Kingdom. Your time together doesn’t need to be long, fancy or complicated. Using some of the short services in the BCP, like Compline, may help some get started. Some parishes take the prayer focus that follows this monthly meditation and cut each section out with scissors and distribute them so that each participant at the meeting has a prayer item to share. Whatever encourages participation will deepen the prayer life of your parish.
Bishop Don Harvey has exhorted us on more than one occasion, “Pray, Pray, Pray!” If ANiC and ACNA are to grow and stay faithful to the Lord’s mandate for us, it will come on a foundation of a praying people from coast to coast. We must not leave this responsibility just to the “specialists”. May we all embrace the privilege of participating with the Lord through prayer in His awesome redemption! Amen.
Garth V. Hunt
Praise God …
That He is our Abba Father and delights in hearing from us and communicating to us.
That prayer – our conversation with our heavenly Father – can be a delight.
That God hears and responds to our prayers; and we can impact history through intercession that moves the hand of God.
For the privilege of conversing with our Abba Father 24/7
For the privileging of engaging in the spiritual battle through prayer.
For the reformation God is working out in global Anglicanism – and the entire Christian Church. In the midst of chaos, He is building His Kingdom and refining His bride, the Church.
For His blessing on ANiC, for how He has led, and for the future He has planned for us.
For our churches, for the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) and for the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
For the many ANiC “projects” and church plants – the small, but growing congregations of faithful Anglicans – He is adding to our number.
For faithful Anglican bishops, clergy and laity – throughout the Communion – who are standing for truth even when their stand for Christ and His Word makes them targets of attack.
Confess if needed…
For failing to pray; for not being persistent in prayer.
For not regularly upholding our leaders and those in positions of authority and influence.
For not bringing local, national and international events to His throne.
For not seeing prayer as a privilege and a delight.
Please pray…
That we would grow in our love for our Lord and learn to delight in communing with Him in prayer.
That we would develop a passion for those around us who need our Lord.
That the ministries of our churches and that we would become more intentional in reaching out to our communities.
For Bishops Donald Harvey, Stephen Leung, Charlie Masters, Trevor Walters, Malcolm Harding and Ronald Ferris – and their families. Pray for spiritual and physical protection and renewal, for wisdom, and for a daily closer walk with God.
For those suffering under the attack of the enemy in our congregations and families. Pray for victory in Christ and healing where needed.
For ANiC clergy and their families, especially those experiencing spiritual and physical attack. May the joy of the Lord be their strength.
For new and forming ANiC congregations as they attend to the many details of organizing and launching a parish – and for other congregations considering joining ANiC.
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For the Asian Ministries outreaches in the Vancouver area to Chinese restaurant workers |
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For the community outreach initiatives of Good Shepherd House (Sioux Lookout, ON) |
For the many ANiC congregations that have lost their places of worship or have been forced to appeal to the courts and face the possible loss of their buildings. May they demonstrate love to those who persecute them.
For the legal team and parish leaders involved in court proceedings.
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For the Vancouver-area parishes preparing for the Sept 13-16 case in the BC Court of Appeal. |
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For the case involving St Aidan’s in Windsor, ON. |
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For St George’s (Burlington, ON), Good Shepherd (St Catharines, ON) and St Hilda’s (Oakville, ON) in their dispute with the Diocese of Niagara. |
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For St George’s and St Alban’s in Ottawa facing possible litigation. |
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For a change of heart on the part of the leaders of dioceses pursuing ANiC parishes. May they relent and work with parishes to reach amicable, mutually beneficial settlements. |
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For generous donations to ANiC’s legal defense fund |
For Biblically-faithful Anglicans in Canada who feel isolated in liberal churches and dioceses as well as for those who feel they can no longer remain in the Anglican Church of Canada. May they find Christian fellowship and spiritual nourishment.
For the recovery of a lively orthodoxy in the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) and for those who believe they are called to remain in the ACoC to pray and work for reformation and for a renewed commitment to Jesus Christ and His inspired Word.
For the leaders of the Anglican Communion Alliance (formerly Anglican Essentials Federation), Anglican Essentials Network, and Anglican Essentials Canada as they provide support for orthodox Anglicans still within the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC).
For those in the Zacchaeus Fellowship who are giving testimony to the liberation God offers those held captive in sexual sin; for the Anglican Church of Canada to listen to their witness.
For Archbishop Gregory Venables (and his wife, Sylvia) as they have been facing adversity; for God’s peace, protection, renewal and blessing.
For God’s blessing on the Province of the Southern Cone which graciously provided a temporary “home” for ANiC when we needed Primatial oversight.
For God’s blessing on the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA):
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For Archbishop Bob Duncan (and wife, Nara) |
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For the other ACNA dioceses. |
For the orthodox Primates and bishops – especially those in the Global South – who are courageously standing for Truth. Pray for spiritual and physical protection and for discernment, grace and strength as they lead in a torn Communion.
For the Anglican Relief and Development Fund Canada (ARDFC); for generous contributions to ARDFC’s malaria prevention initiative in Kenya.
For the Covenant process and the realignment underway in the Anglican Communion. May the Lord clearly lead and may His will be done.
For the Archbishop of Canterbury. May he pursue God wholeheartedly and seek the wisdom and discernment he needs to fulfill his responsibilities to the glory of God.
For suffering Christians around the world in conditions of persecution, war, drought, famine and poverty – especially those in Muslim countries who face discrimination, harassment and violence.
That God would revive us, our church and, ultimately, our nation.
For those in authority over us and who service our country. Pray for wise decisions that honour the Lord and promote the welfare of our nation. Pray specifically:
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For those in government – both for members of Parliament creating laws and for civil servants in positions of responsibility – that they would uphold righteousness. |
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For judges in our court system who are charged with interpreting and applying laws; |
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For officers of the law and emergency response personnel who daily risk their lives for our protection; and |
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For those who selflessly serve our country in the military – as well as for their families at home. |
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