"Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever."
(Ps. 28:9)
On 7 April 2003, we placed a prayer ad on a local newspaper for a 52-day period due to the SARS outbreak. The purpose of the prayer ad was to pray for the epidemic situation, infected individuals, medical staff as well as various needs in the society. On the one hand we hoped to gather more intercessors to plead to God in unity. However, what was more important was that God's word might be broadcast in the media so that the hearts of mankind may be revived and their eyes turn toward Jesus. In the midst of the turmoil of the city and the people's hopelessness toward the future, how would God use the prayers of His children and to bring revival to our city? Indeed the only way was that the Lord Himself would have to issue the order.
It has been an enormous struggle when it comes to writing prayers for newspaper. What is most important about prayer was to understand the Lord's perspective on every matter. The responsibility of the intercessor lies not only in praying for the matter itself, but a desire for the matter to change for the better so that people can know about God. Also, we need to ensure that the general readers have a good understanding in all of the written materials. These written materials need to be censored and examined by the newspapers on its stance toward religion. In addition, we need to keep abreast of any current news and pray for every piece of news so as to know what the Lord has chosen for that day. The process of writing prayers then began. The entire process can be rather tense and often competes with time. In early October, I told my staff that the Lord must issue an order if we were to write prayers for the newspaper. It is only through the Lord that such matter can be accomplished by faith. The Lord is the God who is the beginning and the end.
Around midnight on a mid-October evening, I looked at the clock on the wall and it was 3:00am. I wanted to finish the work before going to bed. I was about to continue writing when I realized I had already fallen asleep with my pen still in my hand. It was about 4:00am. I had spent more than an hour asleep with my pen in my hand. I returned to my room and slept. As I lied down and closed my eyes, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, "Wake up! Go to the living room and pray." My heart was suddenly wide awake. I immediately knelt down in the living room and prayed. The Lord moved my heart and commanded me to write prayers beginning November 1 that would last for six months. My heart was full of joy because the Lord had given the order and we would indeed be victorious. Although it was quite an arduous task, the Lord would surely give us grace. We will go out in joy and be led forth in peace as it is written in the Scriptures. Moreover, as you read out the prayers and God's word is proclaimed, you believe that His deeds be made known to mankind by the media so that they would experience and learn about them. Whenever you read the verse or a passage of truth, may the Lord touch the hearts of every reader so that they would desire to know more about the Lord, regardless of whether he or she is already a believer.
Today, not only can you find the prayer ad on the local newspaper, you can also download it from our website. Please contact us should you like to receive the daily prayers via e-mail. We will send you the prayers via e-mail everyday. We also hope that you will remember in your personal prayer the daily prayers we need to write. You are welcome to support us financially as we are in need of the Lord's provision. May your work be strengthened and remembered by the Lord. Thank you again for your concern and support.