Page 92 - v3 Yearbook

Let Us Pray!

team members (Bro. Charles, Coach, Abugri), the rst driven by this desire to understand; to plead my case … ere should always be somebody or some people praying Isaiah 62:6-7 says “ye that are the Lord’s remembrances,
thing they do aer greetings are exchanged is to pray. So it and be acquitted (Isaiah 43:26); to be a vessel of honour and crying out to God for mercy and grace (Hebrews take no rest and give him no rest until He has established
made perfect sense that they would spend some quality (Romans 9:21); to have that spirit of excellence Daniel had 4:16); praying like Ezekiel for restoration (Ezekiel 37:4); Jerusalem you and made you a praise on the earth.” at
time praying over a new appointment, an international (Daniel 5: 12; 6: 3); to receive restoration (Joel 2:25); to rallying the people to pray like Jehoshaphat in times of verse is all the prodding I need to keep on praying and
one at that. But goodness, to pray for nine hours?? How? have God order my steps (Psalm 37:23); to have God break calamity (2 Chronicles 20: 1-20); seeking direction from having long (not too one-sided) conversations with God.
Why? What at all were you telling God?? I must have all protocols in my favour (Numbers 27:1-8); and above all God like David (1 Samuel 30:8) or praising God for Someday I will hit and exceed nine hours of prayer; but for
looked as incredulous as I felt when I asked those for purity of destiny as wrought by the anointing oil victory or good harvest (2 Samuel 6:14); or like Daniel now I am okay with three hours and some minutes; It’s a
questions because he laughed so hard. And that too was (Exodus 30:23-25). praying to ensure a prophecy comes to pass for the libera- process.
normal, because I oen make him laugh when I tell him tion of God’s children (Daniel 9:1-4; 10:1-3 & 11-13); or
some of the things I’m going through in my nascent And prayer changes you in subtle ways; your relationships praying to decree and declare the word of God (Job 22:28). See you in the Woods sometime or pass by the Patmos
relationship with God. He rarely trivializes my issues, but change, your alliances change, your desires kind of change Prayer Chapel – kneel, say a prayer, and anoint your head
I guess when you’ve been through tough battles and over time, as you spend more time in the presence of God Chronicles 7:14 says "if my people which are called by my with some oil... for free…. and when you say a prayer, say
survived, certain experiences become like paper cuts, or praying. Gradually, He renes you and smoothens the name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face one for me .
maybe I am just that funny . edges little by little. And even the gradual nature of the and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from
rening process can be tough and frustrating because you heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
What wasn’t normal was when aer laughing he tells me are most oen in some kind of transition; not where you land".
with certainty and condence that “Oh my daughter don’t used to be (thank God!), but nowhere near where you
worry, you will soon get there”. Now that, made me laugh. ought to be (oh God please hurry!). e truth is if you do not have someone praying for you
Because in as much as I was accustomed to having long from time to time, you are in trouble. But you are in
conversations with God and chatting with Him on and o In my walk with Papa and the Grace Team, I realized that deeper trouble if you do not know how to “conversate”
throughout the day, I did not consider that prayer. Yes, I genuine power comes with humility (not to be confused with God. You see your prayer partner or pastor can aord
would check in from time to time and ask for guidance or with timidity); and to be powerful and eective in life, and to forget to pray for you; yes it even happened to Jesus in
favour or wisdom, and would pray over my meals and especially in ministry, one needs to pray always. Prayer the garden of Gethsemane when the disciples could not
drinks, yes even a few shots of good brandy. But really that must be your foundation, the core of who you are. But in stay awake to pray and keep watch with Him! But I doubt
is not prayer right? I thought prayer was the fervent cry my quest to know God so I gure out what He has you will ever forget to pray for yourself when you are
Vickie Sekyere-Abankwa - Precant (Pray-er) / Intercessor you make to God when you are in deep trouble, or the planned for me, I never once thought I would be called to going through an issue. You might fall asleep
(oen one-sided) devotion thing you do in your quiet any form of ministry, forget something requiring prayer; praying…but you won’t forget to pray. And prayer, be it on
time. And really, that usually took me all of ve minutes and I mean lots of prayer. your knees, in the car, kitchen, washroom, or a serene
on a good day and that included praying for family, place like the woods or gardens, or before a church altar,
“You mean you prayed for nine (9) hours?? Why? friends, the nation and even world peace! And so I Besides, let’s face it, intercession is probably the most makes a great dierence; Persistent prayer changes
unglamorous of all the spiritual gis! Powerful yes, but
situations and most importantly, it changes you.
laughed at the notion that I would ever pray for nine hours
What could you possibly be telling God for nine hours??! and told him as much. Because seriously, I get the dedica- not glamorous. Especially in a world of fast miracles and
tion and all, but really who prays for nine hours?? signs and wonders. I used to think it was the gi of exhor- So to answer the question we started with, “Who prays for
at is the question I asked a man of God, Evangelist Dr. counted on the deep seated hunger and unquenchable Oh boy was I wrong! I should have known not to doubt a tation that was least glamorous because most people take nine hours?” Anyone really; a prayerful man or woman of
Ebenezer Abboah-Oei (aectionately called Papa in the thirst to know Him and understand His Word (which man of God with a prophetic gi; and I should have been the encouragement they receive for granted. Half the time God; a loving parent (and not just for a troublesome
Akuapem style), about thirteen years ago. I had been interestingly I always considered my manual for life); a smart to remember that the Saturday Fellowship was also they do not even realize that the encourager might be child); a praying spouse (an Isaac not Elkanah); a good
attending the Saturday Fellowship of the Grace Evangelis- hunger that would only grow with time and is never really run as a School of Prayer where you are empowered to going through a tougher time than they are. But interces- sibling or friend; a dedicated employee; a patriotic citizen;
tic Team regularly for some time in my quest to discover sated. pray for yourself and your family etc. Indeed! Before Dr. sion?? Come on, nobody sees you and they usually do not a lost soul waiting on God and praying persistently until
God’s purpose for my life. By that point in my life, having Olukoya’s Prayer Rain, we had Prayer Lines on specic know you are bearing them up in prayers. Well, unless you something happens; a Jabez or Jacob wrestling with God
never quite t in, I had decided to ask the “manufacturer” So in one of our numerous chats about everything and issues at Grace Presby, Akropong. have the “provisions for prayer & fasting” kind of arrange- until He changes their name and destiny; or maybe just a
Himself what’s up. Aer fumbling through life and trying nothing, Papa revealed to me that he had spent the ment! stubborn girl praying to discover God’s purpose.
things on my own and making Him co-pilot when it previous weekend praying with his aunt about her new And so over time and so gradually that I had not even
suited me, I had wisely decided to let God be Captain, for international appointment. Now that part was normal; he realized it, my prayer life got a bit more serious. I spent And yet prayer, especially intercession, is the backbone of “By prayer let me wrestle, and He will perform. With
a while. at was the plan….give it a try. I obviously hadn’t is always praying. When you visit him and most of the more time in the Woods (Prayer Arboretum) praying; any solid ministry, family, individual or corporation. Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.” MHB 511

WEYGEYHEY 96 91 20TH ANNIVERSARY YEARBOOK