National Day of Prayer 2016
The
Free Church of Scotland has called for a national day of prayer:
“Scotland can be considered by many to be a post
Christian nation, many have no understanding of the good news of Jesus and at
times the challenge of making the Gospel known can seem like an impossible
task. But we believe the brave new world of Scotland is not a reason for us to
panic; rather it is a reason for us to pray. As Os Guinness states, “The
ultimate factor in the church’s engagement with society is the church’s
engagement with God”
On the 30th of November 2016 – St Andrews’s Day – we
invite all our members to get together for the specific purpose of praying and
worshipping God together. In order to facilitate this we are urging all
congregations to open their buildings for prayer and worship for a period
throughout the day or to meet together in small groups across the country. We
would also encourage youth groups, small groups and Bible study groups to
consider joining together for a dedicated time of prayer.”
Would
it not be an excellent expression of spiritual solidarity if other Reformed and
evangelical churches within Scotland also participated in this day of prayer.
The Free Church may have initiated this planned day of prayer, but surely we
hope that other denominations, even if acting only at a congregational level,
would also participate in this spiritual exercise.
While
we await the promised resources I append an example of how this has been done
in the past, citing the Act of Assembly of 1690:
“Let us, therefore, humble ourselves by fasting and
praying;—let us search out our sins, and consider our ways, and confess these
and our other sins with sorrow and detestation;—let us turn unto the Lord with
fasting and weeping, and with mourning;—let us firmly resolve, and sincerely
engage, to amend our ways and doings, and return unto the Lord our God with all
our heart, and earnestly pray that, for the blood of the Lamb of God, our sins
may be forgiven, and our backslidings healed, and we may yet become a righteous
nation, keeping the truth, that religion and righteousness may flourish, and
love and charity abound, and all the Lord's people may be of one mind in the
Lord; and in order to all these, that the Word of the Lord may have free course
and be glorified, and that the preaching of the Word and dispensing of the
sacraments may be accompanied with the wonted presence, power, and blessing of
the Spirit of the Lord;—that the Lord would preserve and bless our gracious
King and Queen, William and Mary, and establish their throne by righteousness
and religion, and grant to these nations peace and truth together; and for that
end, bless and prosper his Majesty's councils, and forces, by sea and land, and
these of the princes and states his allies, for God and his truth;—that
inferior rulers may rule in the fear of God, and judges be clothed with
righteousness; and that many faithful labourers may be sent out into the Lord's
vineyard; and they who are sent may find mercy to be faithful and be blest with
success; —that families may be as little churches of Christ; and that the Lord
would pour out his Spirit on all ranks of people, that they may be holy in all
manner of conversation, and God may delight to dwell amongst us, and to do us
good.”
Please
visit the Free Church website where resources for congregational use will be
made available:
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