On the eve of our cluster's launch to A-stage status, I am pondering how to sufficiently explain the bounty and blessings of a community-wide prayer campaign.
I have put together a bookmark to give the friends at the Reflection Meeting. On one side, I've put the chosen prayer (Teaching Prayer for the Southern States). On the other side, I want to put a blurb about the value of prayer campaigns. Here is where I'm falling down. In my head I understand what prayer campaigns can bring to a community but when it comes to writing it down, I can't seem to put my thoughts together.
What I came up with I largely "borrowed" from another blog dedicated to an A-status cluster's activities. I loved what it said about the nature of a cluster-wide prayer campaign: "Offering ardent daily prayers... for receptive souls in the cluster and for Baha'i teachers to arise courageously to directly teach the Faith."
I love the idea of "offering ardent prayers." I wonder if all our prayers were "ardent," would we be that much more successful in our endeavors?
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I don't know if this helps, but I have always envisioned prayer has having two components, two purposes, two directives. The first is obviously in the message to God, whether it is praise, or a request for help, or preferably both. In my mind, this portion is for God. But, the second part, well the second part is where we do something for us. Prayer is about that praise and devotion just as much as it is about changing our own mindsets, to become more focused, disciplined, passionate and even ardent in our mission.
ReplyDeleteThe "Southern States" prayer mentions spreading "Thy teachings among They peoples", changing "a gnat into an eagle", "so that my tongue may utter Thy praises and attributes among all people and my soul overflow with the wine of Thy love and knowledge."
Maybe some words that strongly encourage friends not just to pray, but to get excited, enthused and attentive to the needs of the community and the seekers they will be meeting would be useful.