TRBC Youth Blog

Father,

Through the many things that have happend this week, and the conversations with a number of camp comm members, I feel that the spiritual siege against us has begun - subtly, but it has definitely begun. Cracks between people are beginning to show, and people are finding it difficult (with different reasons) to sustain their committment to the camp. Father, I pray that you seal these gaps with Your wisdom. I pray that Your love remains topmost in our minds as we go about our business for this camp. I pray that as we plan and do, that Your Holy Spirit reminds us about the things which are important, rather than have our minds focus on the urgent matters.

May our lips always be filled with edifying words to build people up, not to tear them down. May we communicate with a true meeting of minds, understanding each other without any miscommunication, dis-information, or breakdowns in communications. I pray that Your veil of protection cover us all, Father, and that we continue to pray for each other during this time of stress and work.

May You open our spiritual eyes that we may be able to discern for ourselves messages and events that are of You, and those that are from the evil one. I entrust the entire camp comm into Your care and protection Lord - You are the Good Shepherd, and we are Your sheep. I pray You protect us and keep us from harm.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.


>> An explanation of why this is a "cumulative prayer":
I've been a little bugged by what some comm members have shared (it's not just one person, okay) about what they're going through during the preparations for the camp, and it's been on my mind these three days. I've been praying on and off about it here and there, but today was the day that I finally sat down and made it a point to set the prayer down on paper. Hence, cumulative prayer.

See prayer on 31 March 2005.

And don't forget to pray for the Pub/Pub Committee; the launch is going to be this Sunday!

1) Pray for the designs of the posters and bookmarks to be out and printed by Sat
2) Pray for the video to be in time for the launch
3) Pray for people sharing on Sunday to be able to speak to the youths
4) Pray for the hearts of the youth to be excited

See prayer on 31 March 2005.

See prayer on 31 March 2005.

Hi all,

This is a backdated prayer for Yuxun; I tried to post this but the post got eaten up on Sunday, and for some reason it just got stuck.

Anyway, today's prayer was a personal prayer for Yuxun.

Amen! :)

The worship sub-comm, Shixuan, Puden and Jon Ee, were covered in personal prayers today.

Hallelujah! :)

I'm not exactly on the verge of giving up on this whole idea of praying everyday for the camp till the camp comes around, but I have to say that trying to do it everyday is exhausting on a level which I can't really explain - I mean, we all have things which we do everyday, our little rituals, but fitting this particular ritual into my schedule doesn't ever seem to work, and it's quite demoralising. It's been three days since I last prayed for anything to do with the camp, mainly because my waking hours are just filled with anxiety over the amount of readings and papers I have to write - no longer the overnighters expected of undergraduates, but the thoughtful musings of (what is supposed to be) an intelligent life-form. Rather unfortunately, that means a lot more work than what I am used to...

I guess you can classify this under "excuses", but I also am of the strong conviction that it is a sort of spiritual burden that prayer co-ordinators have to bear. I caught myself wondering in disgust the other night: what made me agree to this hare-brained scheme anyway?! I'm not one of the greatest prayer people in the world; seriously, place me with other people who are more prayer-minded than me and there is no comparison - I'll walk out of the contest myself.

But this isn't about contests, is it? Each person's comfort zone level is different. Me, I prefer to be pushed a little, because I believe (sigh) that adversity breeds character. I wouldn't go so far as to say this demoralisation is "suffering", but I think Romans 5 pretty much describes my attitude towards some things in life in general:

Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

So I will press on, and if I miss a couple of days here and there, I'm going to try not to be derailed from the general purpose of the appointment, which is to pray: dust yourself off and try again, sang Aliyah, no?

Father,
Own me - take all that I am
Heal me - by the blood of the Lamb
Mould me - by Your gracious Hand
Own me.
Amen.

Today was a personal prayer for the three treasurers, Beverly Poon, Eddie Yeo and Michelle Tay. :)

Father,

I have no idea what to be praying for right now, so I'll just pray Thy will be done.

Amen.

Some excuses for not praying are
tenseness, weariness and pain.

Some excuses for not praying are
tangled lives and broken homes.

Some excuses for not praying are
anxious fears of many sorts.

Some excuses for not praying are
bordeom, lack of time, and pride.

Some excuses for not praying are
beautifully articulated.

All excuses for not praying are
good for nothing.

Father,

As the soft launch goes out, I pray that Your spirit will move in the hearts of our people - the youth and parents - to spread the message of this camp amongst friends and family.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Dear Father,

Thank You for still taking care of the planning for the camp even as I forget to pray for us. Father, I give You thanks for allowing the soft-launch of the publicity come through - You indeed are above all our plans, and I thank You for being there just watching over us as we move slowly but surely on with our human plans.

Father, as the communiqué goes out to the Youth in TRBC, I pray that Your spirit will move among them as they read the email; that they will be excited and will sign up.


Even as the PubComm pushes the camp publicity, I want to pray for Jacob and myself. I pray that as we begin to think about how to lead Your people in prayer, that You will show us the direction which You want us to be praying, and how You'd like Your people to be praying. Father, left to our own devices, our prayer will be selfish and inward-looking. I pray You show us what You'd like in this respect. I pray that we will both be faithful in praying. Please keep us down on our knees for Your people.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

This entry is backdated beause I didn't have internet access yesterday.

Father, today I want to give thanks for Esther and Camelia. I thank You that the programme is taking shape under these two sisters' hands, and I pray that You continue to guide these two sisters as they toil for You and for us.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Father,

Thank You for what the committee has been doing so far - I know that people are hard at work putting our plans in action, and I thank You for all the grace You've showered upon us that has brought us thus far - people with willing hands and willing hearts, understanding parents, and the ability to give back to Your church with what You have already gifted us with.

I pray for good time management for all of us as we trundle along - may we have a spirit of excellence doing Your work O Lord, but may we also remember to be a living testimony for You too, not neglecting our lives outside of Your church and thus stumbling others. Please do show us how to balance everything out.

I pray also that You keep us all far from evil: Your word in Hebrews reminds us to "throw off everything that hinders" our walk with You - I pray that you cleanse and sanctify this committee, Father. I pray that if there is any unconfessed or any known-and-not-repented sin among us, that You gently bring it to our attention and prompt us to ask for Your forgiveness and turn away from the sin. Lord, only You can keep us away from temptation and sin: I pray you keep us away from sin, and sin away from us, keeping us cleansed and holy, fit to do Your work.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Father,

Today I want to be praying for Jacob and myself. I pray that You tell us what You would like us to be praying for in these 3 months leading up to the camp. In the midst of our busy schedules, I pray that we will be able to meet up to discuss the prayer newsletter, and other prayer strategies You have in mind. Please show us how, what, where and when You would like us to be on our knees for this camp and for Your people.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Interfere at any price in any fashion when people start to pray, for real prayer is lethal to our cause.
Uncle Screwtape to Nephew Wormwood (CS Lewis, The Screwtape Letters)

Interesting anecdote about prayer today about Daniel. Eastman writes that we often picture prayer as a communication between man and God - a direct telephone line. However, we forget that there are extraneous factors involved... Daniel chapter 10 saw Daniel praying... and praying, and praying. He prayed for 21 days before an angel of the Lord arrived with an answer. Turns out that the message couldn't be delivered due to a heavy server load - a hindering spirit from hell had engaged him in a prolonged battle that lasted 20 days, and had Daniel not been persistent with his prayers, the prayer might have gone unanswered, the messager defeated.

Satan is a real person, possessing awesome power to fight prayer.

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for orchestrating a good introductory session today as the camp committee met. I thank You so much for the willingness of these brothers and sisters to sacrifice their time, energy, effort into serving on this committee. I pray that You bless them abundantly in return. I pray for the persons who were unable to join us today - may they not feel excluded in any way.

Now as the committee's actions truly kick off, I pray that You grant them wisdom to know what to do, and the energy and resources to do Your will.

I pray in particular for the publicity team, who have the biggest job right now - of publicising the Youth Camp to the entire population without a camp name. I pray that You give them innovative ideas on how to conduct their campaign in TRBC, and the energy and resources to see them through. I pray that You multiply their time and give them good heads for time-management.

For us all, I pray that in the midst of all our business, we will not forget to pray.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Prayer - real prayer - sees the answer coming before it actually arrived... Real prayer consists of bold, confident petitions and a certainty that the answer will come. Until belief is conquiered, progress will be halted. We go no further on the Road of Prayer while unbelief obstructs the faith...

According to Eastman, prayer is inextricably linked with faith. Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Easy to say, hard to do - like the man who cried to Jesus: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" This quote has resonated with me since the first time my attention was brought to it - what a great prayer! It's the classic "18-inches" dilemma: 18 inches being the distance between the head and the heart.

So knowing that God will answer prayer, we pray. But believing is an altogether different matter. It's like driving an upgrade of the Flintstone's car: you can run with your feet, or you can use petrol. We get into the car, insert the key knowing that it will run on gasoline, but for whatever reason (disbelief, preferring to do things "the old way") we don't turn on the ignition, preferring to run with our feet to move the car instead. The analogy is a little clumsy, but you get the general idea: we pray for things and events, but rely on our own strength to get there.

Somehow, the answer is a mobius strip. Pray for prayer.



Father,

Thank You for a good Prayer Meeting just now in church.

Thank You for all the responses and sacrifices that are being made by the Camp Committee members to make the meeting this Sunday. I pray that You bless these people for their understanding and giving hearts, and may You remove all and any blockades that the evil one may try to impose along the way to this meeting. I pray for safety as these great individuals come together for their first meeting as a team.

I pray that You preside over this meeting, Lord. May we come together without reservation, and love each other without condition as we prepare for the camp. I pray that irrational fears about meeting new people may be stripped away, irrational thoughts and unreasonable prejudices about anything or any person be abolished, and everyone come with an open heart and mind to meeting new people. I pray that friendships be born that day, and that more importantly, the foundations of Your future church be built. Father, only You can do the magic that is the weaving of lives together - I pray You work Your magic in this group, and bind us together in Your love and Your purpose. I pray that people who are in cliques be self-conscious enough to realise that cliques include and exclude.

May Your purposes prevail within the planning of this camp - please remind us never to forget who is the reason why we come together.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Today, I find myself at a loss of what to pray for - I could simply pick another person to pray for, just for the sake of it, but I think I will alter my m.o. a little and post a few thoughts on prayer from Dick Eastman's No Easy Road.


"The lazy man does not, will not, cannot pray, for prayer demands energy."

...

Beyond the spiraling PEAK OF UNBELIEF, the first mountain to be conquered, lies THE MOUNTAIN OF SIN, hindering many prayer we pray. Next we must pick our way through an AVALANCE OF EXCUSES, removing them from the road, to THE PEAK OF THE HABIT. We chose to cross slowly THE PLATEAU OF INTERCESSION, for difficult lessons must be learned there. Next, we pause for a time in HOLINESS COVE. The road up the towering MOUNTAIN OF SELF WILL is especially arduous and our progress is slow. Then, THE BRIDGE OF BALANCE becons. THE MOUNTAIN OF PERSISTENCE presents a real challenge. Beyond lies the rugged trail to BURDEN'S OUTLOOK. Then our goal appears: TRAIL'S END. At the summit we stand awed at the power of Christ's promise "... ask anything in my name, I will do it."

...

D. Gordon comments,

"The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is pray. It is not the only thing, but it is the chief thing. The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean these people who take time to pray."

1. Eastman, D., 1996. No Easy Road. Michigan, USA: Baker Book House.



Father, today I ask that You help me (us all) climb the MOUNTAIN OF PERSISTENCE as I/we continue to interceed for this camp. It's going to be a long journey, but in You, all things are possible and will be done, because it is definitely in Your name that we do the things we do.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Father,

Thank you for the fantastic promise that You will return again and bring Your people back into Your fold. I pray that I never forget the promises that You've made to Your people, and hold on to them whenever I feel that being faithful is a lost cause.

Today I wish to remember Yuxun in prayer. Thank you for this brother who has been so steady in his service to You, serving in the youth choir, and now, taking up the role of being camp commandant. In the midst of his business, I pray that he remember and trusts in You with all his heart; that he leans on Your strength and understanding, not on his own. I pray that You then give him the assurance that his path is straight and directed by You, the One who can see through the fog of our earthly cares! Thank You Father, for giving us a brother with such a big heart for Your work on earth.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.