We talk

about a lot of stuff around here, this being a newspaper

office and all, and last week a bunch of us were

discussing prayer and the power it held. I think the

topic in particular was the healing power of prayer, but

no matter. With all the ideas and theologies held by the

different people in this office, none of us doubted the

fact that prayer could be powerful. Each of us could

relate an incident where prayer had been almost

miraculous.

Usually,

when we think of praying, it is in the context of asking

or thanking God for the blessings we want or have in our

lives. But in an article in The Beacon, the newsletter

for McDonough Road Baptist Church, Dr. David Chancey made

me stop and think. Sometimes it's time to shut your

mouth, open your mind, and just listen to what God has to

say to us. The article, in part, appears below:

"In

his book `Directions,' James Hamilton tells about a man

who lost a valuable watch while working in an icehouse.

He searched and searched for it, carefully raking through

the sawdust, but he could not find it. His co-workers

looked, but had no luck. A small boy heard about the

unsuccessful search and slipped into the icehouse. Soon

he came out with the watch. The workers were amazed and

asked him how he found it. (The boy replied,) `I closed

the door, lay down on the sawdust and kept very still.

Soon I heard the watch ticking.'

"Often

the question is not whether God is speaking, but whether

we're still enough and quiet enough to hear. As we begin

the busy-ness of `back to the routine,' build time into

your life to `be still and know that I am God.' Take time

to pray, then make listening and resting in God part of

your prayer life. The biggest mistake we could make this

year is to commit to the sin of prayerlessness. The more

we pray, the more real God's presence becomes to us. And,

better yet, the more we become like God. If prayer

changes anything, it changes us."

Wonderful

thoughts to ponder, David, as we wind down this first

month of the new millennium. A powerful way to start the

new year...and the new century.

In the

newsletter "Connections," the publication of

the Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, (only I

would mix the Methodists and Baptists in the same column)

there is a wonderful prayer to start the new year off

right. No author is given, so I will just have to credit

the newsletter. It's called "A prayer for a new

beginning..."

"Touch

me, O Lord, with the spirit of truth that I may be honest

about my sins and failures. Forgive me for treating your

covenant lightly and at times ignoring it completely.

Enable me to truly seek and know forgiveness for all the

hurts I have caused, for harboring ill will and for any

hardness of heart I may have. Please renew a right spirit

within me that I may today begin to be more Christ-like

and that my life may reveal Christ's love and light. In

His name. Amen."

Amen. Until

next time...keep the faith.

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