This resolution of Daily United Prayer is based on An Humble Attempt, originally put forward by Jonathan Edwards in 1748. Its design is to encourage God's people in the duty of united extraordinary prayer; setting aside some time every day to pray for the revival of His church and the advancement of Christ's kingdom in our homes, in our churches, in our nation, and in the world.
I just wanted to share something personal from today if I may.
My wife and I decided to go for a bike ride on the beach today. We actually ended up riding for several hours until we reached "the end" of the beach, on the far side, for a total of 7 miles. It was really exhausting for me because I'm pretty sure I never did anything like that before. But here's the thing that struck me more than anything else. As we rode past person after person along the beach, I had this strange sensation like I was passing by "clips" or "vignettes" of my own life in its various stages. We saw a mother tending to her little toddler daughter in a small pool of water. We saw young families with their children playing in the sand. We saw teenagers playing a game of volleyball. We saw the joggers, the walkers, and the middle-aged moving along briskly. We saw older couples taking a leisurely stroll. But as we continued to press on laboriously, there were less and less people around. It started to feel rather remote and somewhat lonely. There was one person we saw with a camera taking some nature photos out in the middle of nowhere but eventually we were completely alone. All we had was each other.
I just wanted to share that because it really spoke to me pretty profoundly of life itself. We are all traveling along the beach of life in its various seasons until we reach a place in due time where the crowds begin thinning out, one by one, as friends and family begin to pass away. It can be a very lonely experience which is why we find ourselves cherishing the few meaningful relationships that we have left in life. Perhaps that is how some of you view this prayer group? But above it all, I trust we will sense the Lord's presence with us growing stronger and sweeter as we go. For He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. And He has promised to be our guide, even unto death. May God continue to teach us more of Himself as we gather together each day before Him in prayer.
We finally did reach "the end" of the beach where the sand itself was undisturbed and the whole feeling of the place was that of another world. It was impossible to continue riding as the sand was changing texture and density, so we ditched the bikes and walked the last few hundred yards on foot to reach the edge. It was a surreal feeling as we stood there surrounded by the wispy sand against the lapping water. Honestly, it felt like I was on the shores of heaven. Isn't it an immeasurable comfort to know that the Lord is with us to the very end as well? "And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt 28:20. This is the hope of every believer and we have nothing to fear. It is not morbid to think of such things. Those that consider the future will better know how to live in the present. Remember the words of Moses in Deut 32:29, "O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!"
Or, consider Jonathan Edwards' Resolution #9, written in his teen years:
Resolved: To think much, on all occasions, about my own dying, and of the common things which are involved with and surround death.
"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm 37:25.
DAILY UNITED PRAYER unitedprayer.net
Mon-Fri @ 12pm EDT // Sat @ 10am EDT
We invite you to join our dedicated and earnest group of praying participants of all ages from around the world that meet every day over Zoom to pray. At the start of each prayer call, a different individual will bring a brief Scriptural meditation. Here's the most recent: