World AIDS Day Prayer Meeting

We gathered to pray on World AIDS Day 2008. There were not many of us - but we were talking to a God who doesn't need many to do His work.

Over the 3 hours that we spent together in prayer - we covered a wide range of areas that are linked with HIV/AIDS. For one, we talked to the very Maker of the universe! To think about God actually hearing about the needs of people with HIV who are in prostitution, or trapped in addictions, or sick, or for the government health policies - all of these issues being listened to by our loving God who yearns to hear from His children!

It was important for us to have worship woven into the fabric of our time together. It seemed like a blink of an eye and we were at 10.30 PM, singing "Shine Jesus shine" by candle-light.

One of the joys we have in our work is having Enoch and Asha part of almost everything.

They were with us at this meeting as well as we prayed for some pretty heavy stuff - widows, orphans, the dying... We wish they could have a 'nicer' childhood sometimes - but then again, we know that we are called here - and life is full of some pretty grim stuff.

The key, I think is whether God is in the picture or not.

If we just look at the list of issues - it is too overwhelming. And that is why our prayer is a conversation with God. Not just a 'to-do' list that we send up to Him, but rather an on-going dialogue about seeking His good purposes to be lived out - to be implemented and experienced in our hurting world.

As my old Sunday-school song put it: with Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm...

Prayer must become ever more central to us and the life we live. May our conversations with God only grow deeper. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.