Prayer Focus - Week Commencing 18th September 2011

September 16, 2011 - 14:45

Shouts Simeza, Senior Tutor, Ekwendeni College of Health Sciences, Malawi

In 2010, with funding from EMMS International, Shouts Simeza completed a Master’s Degree in Clinical Education at the University of East Anglia. Shortly after he returned home to Malawi, he and members of his family were involved in a fatal accident:

On October 1, 2010 I was involved in a fatal Road Traffic Accident, in which five of my relatives died at the scene and two other family members were severely injured (sustaining fractures of ribs, jaws). My brother and I sustained less life-threatening injuries and spent one night in bed at a District Hospital. These are hard, difficult and tempting times.

· Give thanks to God for sparing the lives of four family members - Shouts Simeza, Joseph Simeza, Loveness Simeza, and Mbonani Simeza.

· Pray for those whose lives were lost - Kettie Simeza, Alick Simeza, Mirriam Nyambale Simeza, Davious Mweso, and Mwenecho Mweso - that the grace of God falls upon their souls – for forgiveness and eternal rest.

· Pray for the children left behind by the deceased, that God in the highest will fix His eyes upon them, His ears shall listen to all cries towards them. Our prayer is that the Almighty God shall PROVIDE all the necessities and requirements on these children – food, clothing, love, and good health as they endeavour in life on this earth without parents.

· Pray for the entire Simeza family that God, in his mercy, will grant them hope and faith in life amidst such rough earthly life.

Linda McCance, Senior Project Officer, EMMS International

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me, watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep company with me and you will learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11: 28-30 (The Message Bible)

We know that we love the Lord and that it feels good to be in a relationship with Him. But life can be very busy and at times it feels “out of control”. The daily tasks are not centred around Him; prayers are a shopping list of requests and quiet times non-existent. The challenge, it seems, is to allow the daily order of our lives to be the product of unhurried time with the Lord. So how do we find those “unforced rhythms of grace”?

Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know that He is God. Father, help us to create space to be with you and to walk more closely with you. Help us to let you take the lead; that we might grow in love, trust and intimacy with you. Help us to set aside the “shopping list” of requests and to learn the “unforced rhythms of grace”.
Thank you, Lord, for the medical staff in our overseas projects who walk closely with you and whose daily tasks are ordered by you.
Thank you, Lord, that you bring an entirely different perspective to life and that you lead us to live freely and lightly, no matter what our circumstances.

Prayer Focus - Week Commencing 18th September 2011

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