Winter is coming so let’s begin praying.
When is it too early to bring out my winter jacket? I know it’s only September but some mornings I look outside and ask myself the question ‘how cold is it going to be today and do I need a warm jacket?!’. In Scotland, we know all too well that you can never guess what the weather is going to do. However, one thing I can be certain of when September arrives is that it’s time for the Overnight Welcome Centre planning to begin!
It genuinely feels like yesterday I wrote a blog about us closing up and here I am writing one about preparing for the next season. In that blog I said, “We will hand over the next season of the OWC to the Lord and trust He already has it covered.” I still hold firm to that – I trust that He already has it covered and that He has prepared the way for the season ahead.
Can I ask you to do something? Will you join with us and pray for the coming season. Over the next three months, I will be busy preparing for the OWC to start. It is vital that the Lord is at the forefront of all the planning and truly the one leading the way. We want the season to glorify Him and reflect who He is to every single person we meet – whether that be in the planning stage or when we open up the doors on December 1st.
Will you commit to spending time with the Lord and praying that His will be done at the Overnight Welcome Centre this year?
Will you join us in believing that this will be the most successful season yet for our guests reaching positive outcomes?
Will you pray for the team still to be hired and celebrate that God already knows who they are?
If you need any encouragement about praying, Scripture reads:
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:13-16)
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Finally, if you don’t know what to pray, lean on this Scripture:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.(Matthew 6:9-10)
Pray that His kingdom comes and His will be done – right here on earth (at the Overnight Welcome Centre) as it is in heaven. Your prayers are powerful and effective and the Lord hears them. Thank you for joining with us and raising your voice as we hand the season over to God.
