prayer and fasting

Ash Wednesday. The start of 'Lent'.

An appropriate day for a day of prayer and fasting with a view to the forthcoming 'General Assembly', when big church gets together and addresses all the issues that are out there to be faced.

A whole load of congregations up and down the land have been marking today like that. And not only here in Scotland. Hundreds, maybe even thousands in America, resolved that they would join us in this day of prayer and fasting with that big May meeting in view.

And millions in China as well. The whole House Church movement in China was mobilised and engaged to pray and fast for the Church of Scotland at this time. That's an awful lot of people and an awful lot of praying and an awful lot of urgency in our crying out to God.

Did we know so many folk do really care about what happens here? Did we really grasp the fact that God himself is that concerned he puts it in the hearts of all these people to be joining thus in prayer?

Something big is surely going on when a massive, millions-strong army of seasoned praying warriors way out east is mobilised like this to pray.

There was a sense of that throughout today. A powerful word at the lunch-time service: the Lord very present indeed.

There was, of course, lunch for those that wished - there isn't a three-line whip! But I skipped the lunch and got things sorted out and ready for the afternoon session when our 'Upper Room' was open for leaders from across the city to gather and join in a time of prayer together.

We broke the afternoon into three hour long sessions. People drifted in and out, but along with the chance to talk a bit, we were able to read the Scriptures and spend some good long time each hour in prayer.

There was no great rush to get back for tea (it's a day of prayer and fasting after all!). But we'd organised an evening on the south side of the town where folk from all the different congregations could gather again for prayer.

Again, a great spirit prevailed. Urgent, earnest praying in the confidence that something's going on, the Lord's at work. We prayed that the fire of the Lord would fall - the fire of the Spirit of God.

We looked at what happened a long time ago at another general assembly. Elijah on Mount Carmel, confronted with a rampant form of Baalism within the church of the day, hopelessly outnumbered as he addressed his appeal to the floating voters with his make-your-mind-up message - How long will you waver between two opinions? - in the context of a 'gospel' that'd been thoroughly watered down.

All very pertinent stuff!

And then prayer. A simple, specific, God-honouring prayer. Let the fire fall. And it did.

And we trust it will!