HELPS TO PRAYER

One of the most useful tools I have read on prayer is contained in the book "Prayer Changes Things" by Charles Allen.

It's simple, effective and easy to remember. It’s ACTSS

No that’s not a misspelling, it stands for:-
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
Submission

You start your prayer with Adoration. Just praise God for who he is, for His creation and abounding goodness. Psalms are very good to use as prayers of adoration.

Next comes Confession. Not always an easy thing for us humans to do, but easier when you remember that God knows all about us anyway, and still loves us.

Next comes Thanksgiving. Thank Him for everything you have, for your families, friends, job, food, shelter etc.

Supplication, this is where you intercede for others. The prayer list on this web-site might be a useful tool for you.

Submission. This is the “S” that often gets forgotten. This is where we submit to Gods plan for our life. For being a part of God’s answers to prayer in the lives of others.

I hope that this will help you in your time of prayer.

HISTORY OF THE PRAYER COVENANTERS' LEAGUE

The earliest record of Covenanters in Australia appears in the War Cry magazine on July 19th, 1902.

The term is linked back to the Scottish Covenanters of 1638 – 1688, a courageous band of men and women who covenanted "to resist the encroachment of corrupt authorities upon religious liberty". Many signed their name in blood at the Greyfriars’ churchyard, Edinburgh.

An article appeared in the War Cry of July 19th, 1902 calling for Salvationists to pledge themselves to another "Solemn League and Covenant”.

To quote the article:
"Not in this case to resist the encroachment of corrup, authorities upon religious liberty, but that every Salvationist should make a determined individual and aggressive effort to pray for special sinners, win them to Christ, pledge them for soldiership in our ranks, and do their utmost for a united advance against the hosts of sin and the devil..

If this covenant is to be carried out – and who dare say that it cannot be – it will assuredly only be by considerable amount of practical self-denial, personal toil, and unshaken perseverance."

The language might be quaint, but the message in the last paragraph of the article is as relevant then as it is now.

"The Campaign Covenant lies before you. Take it as your Lord’s call for fresh proof of your love to Him, and the best opportunity yet presented to you of being a channel for His love to flow through into others hearts.

Rise up and ‘pay your vows to the Lord’…

WILL YOU BE A COVENANTER?"

In 1905 the call for covenanters was renewed, as the influence of the Welsh Revival swept around the world.

Commissioner McKie placed a full 2 column plea in the February 4th, 1905 War Cry for a Prayer League to “work in our lives, and bring renewal”. The covenant was placed on page 9 of the War Cry and all soldiers were encouraged to sign up.
Daily prayer meetings at 12 noon at THQ were commenced.

Covenanters today are linked to the fervent, praying band of Salvationists at the beginning of the last century (what a privilege!).

Brigadier Cyril Brimblecombe was the first Prayer Covenanters secretary. He was followed by Brigadier G Clarke, then Adjutant L. C. Rusher in 1943. There is no record until 1960 when Colonel Cyril Brimblecombe again became the Secretary. He was followed by the then Captain Roland Hill, Lieut. Colonel Alan Sharp, Major Brian Corfield, Major Horrie Wishart & Major Gwenda Watkinson.

Major Jennifer Middleton became the Prayer Covenanters secretary in December 2001, and handed over to Captain Donna Bryan in January 2005.

ABOUT OUR LOGO

The Prayer Covenanters' League exists to promote the power of prayer in people's lives. Our logo is simple, yet profound:
The Cross is central to the logo and reminds us that everything we do stems from God’s redemptive work on the cross.

The praying hands are self-evident, their position is crucial. The top left hand corner is one of prominence, before everything, we pray.

The outstretched hand is very much linked with the praying hands, you can’t have one without the other. It’s position is very important, it has its basis in the cross but has a secondary position.

The praying and outstretched hands also reminds us of the Salvation Army motto, "Heart to God, Hand to Man".

The position of the praying hands:
Before everything we pray.
We pray first, then go out.

How many times do we do the opposite ? We get everything together, then send out a quick prayer to gain God’s blessing. This is back to front, and the Bible gives us many examples of how prayer should be.

Acts is one book that teaches us clearly, that something happens when God’s people pray. Look through Acts this month and you will find many examples, here are but a few:

Warren W Wiersbe said of prayer:
Prayer is both the thermometer and the thermostat of the local church; for the "spiritual temperature" either goes up or down, depending on how God’s people pray.

Putting prayer first is a way we can assure that we place God first in our lives and seek His will in everything we do. It’s putting the horse in front of the cart, where it belongs.

The final part of this logo is the "outstretched hands".

The outstretched hands are very much linked to the praying hands, you can’t have one without the other. Who of you can pray without wanting to do something?

Salvation Army Commissioner Les Strong once posed a question at a meeting at Waverley, when speaking on prayer: "What happens after I say Amen?"

God expects us to become a part of his answers to prayer. It’s no good saying, "help so-and-so get well", if we are able to look after the children for awhile and give the person time to get well, but we don’t do it.

It’s no good saying: “let this person know that they are in our thoughts” if we don’t drop them a line, or phone them, and tell them we’re thinking about them.

Perhaps as you read this you are wondering how you can be a part of the answer to prayers.

When injustice is being done or there is need for social reform, you can write to your local MPs, you can sign a petition or start one. Equally you can be aware of the people around you.

Invite your neighbour to church. Somewhere, someone will be praying for them.

Drop a meal or bunch of flowers to someone who is grieving or sick, somewhere, someone is praying for their recovery or for peace for their heartache.

Have you ever stopped to think that you are a part of the way that God is going to answer prayer?

I find this humbling and challenging.

This is what the church is about! It’s not buildings and programmes, it’s people.

God wants to use you and I, to reach out to those around us, to bring about His redemptive and compassionate work.

PRAISE UPDATES

This month's Praise Updates are listed below:

PRAYER UPDATES

This month's Prayer Updates are listed below:

OPERATION DESERT ROSE

Operation Desert Rose is a prayer initiative for the people of the Middle East and North Africa.

- here is the home of Judaism and Islam
- here is much of the world's oil
- here conflict erupts easily and the Israeli-Palestinian peace remains unresolved
- here is the least evangelised part of the world

If you are willing to spend a minute each day as an Operation Desert Rose prayer partner, please email IHQ-CFWE@salvationarmy.org - adding the words Operation Desert Rose in your subject.

You will receive a short information sheet and fortnightly prayer guide.