Faith-full Prayer

by Rev. John Sheldon, PPL Board President

 

Why do we introduce these prayer prompts with a call to prayer? Because our Lord Jesus emphasizes for his people that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Faith-filled prayer is an essential and necessary means for the outpouring of God’s grace on us and for those for whom we pray. When we pray according to God’s revealed will he answers our prayers. When we
pray for the protection of pre-born baby in the womb, or help for the pregnant mother carrying that nascent human person, or at the other end of life, for the vulnerable aged man or woman in the nursing home, we know we are praying according to God’s will revealed in Scripture. Therefore, Presbyterians Protecting Life (PPL) invites you to use these prayer prompts.
 

Too often we find it difficult to pray. Actual prayerlessness is more of a problem for Christians than we would like to admit. Our Lord knows this about us. He “knows our frame and remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). He reminds us that our heavenly Father will nurture the faith he has given us. Jesus our Mediator intercedes for us. The Holy Spirit empowers us to pray. In light of these truths, as Pastor Martin Luther is reported to have said to his congregants, “Take yourself in hand and say to yourself, ‘Down on your knees and pray!’”
 

In these weeks that follow the glorious celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection, we thank God for his sovereign power in both creating human life and now giving us new forgiven life because of penal substitutionary atoning death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. There may be hard-to-bear realities right now in your life or the lives of your loved ones but, in light of the resurrection, all
will be well. In our world the culture of death blinds people to the reality of the Risen Christ. It is tempting to give in to the world’s anxiety and hopelessness and think that abortion or assisted suicide are reasonable solutions. But we have been given victory over sin and death! We will soon “bear the image of the man of heaven”

(1 Corinthians 15:49). So, with the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah we remember God’s promises and have true hope, “But this I call to mind, and therefore have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end” (Lamentations 3:21-22).
 

Many of us like to walk several times a week. I enjoy listening to podcasts as I walk but, sometimes, I take that time to pray. Walking and praying go well together. Take a copy of this Life Support Prayer Calendar in your pocket and use the prayer prompts as you walk. Consider asking
your pastor to include one of these PPL prayer prompts in each Sunday’s bulletin or have it included on the video monitor in your church’s worship area. Give others in your church the opportunity to pray for the protection and respect for preborn and vulnerable lives among us. Pray for the ongoing work of PPL and its executive director Carla van Eyk. Our mission statement reads, “Compelled by the Gospel, PPL equips Presbyterians to champion human life at every stage.” We need your prayers to accomplish that mission.

 

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