by Daniel Ade. Iselaiye, Chairman, Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA USA DCC)| Keeping in touch: (937) 562-1696 | Prayers can help us fulfil hopeful expectations and aspirations.
Some things do happen in our life in which we may have no word to offer. As I look at the present situation in which Hurricane Harvey has put many in a total disarray and hopelessness, nothing comes into my mind except the popular song that says, “”When the Storms of Life are Raging, Stand by Me.” Please, in the context of our people struggling literally and spiritually with the storms and the floods, join me to look at this song again:
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (Stand by me);
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea
Thou Who rulest wind and water,
Stand by me (Stand by me)
In the midst of tribulation,
Stand by me (Stand by me)
In the midst of tribulation,
Stand by me (Stand by me)
When the hosts of hell assail,
And my strength begins to fail,
Thou Who never lost a battle,
Stand by me (Stand by me)
You must have known the rich history behind this song. Many great personalities, like Leiber, Stoller, Ben E. King, Charles Albert Tindley, just to mention a few, will be remembered by those of us that love Negro Spirituals and Country Songs. Today, as we offer our prayers before the Throne of Grace, in support for all who have been affected by these great storms, I find this song to be at the center of my prayer. Presently, as I am writing, there are many hanging on there while waiting for some helps to come. Your prayers and mine are needed. They are also waiting for those who can get there physically. They are waiting for the water to recede, waiting to get their houses fixed or rebuilt, waiting to get in touch with families, relatives and friends. Please, join me and others in prayer. Let us remember where we have come from: “S.I.M. by Prayer.” The same thing is true for the ECWA Family, the mission product of the Sudan Interior Mission (S.I.M). Whether I go back to our history or not, being born again, we know that we exist in this world by prayer because the grace of God comes more to us when we pray.
Prayers can help us fulfil hopeful expectations and aspirations. Pray that victims of this great disaster may live in good health. It has been a great loss for the individuals. Pray that they may recover from their unexpected losses. God has a way of turning situations like this into great blessings. May God’s Name be glorified. May God bless you as you remember to bear one another’s burdens. Grace, love, and peace to you, in Jesus’ name.
