3 minute read
Devoted to God and to each other
BY MARCIA STRAUSS, SIM SPIRITUAL VITALITY LEAD
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– EM Bounds
Devotion keeps us focused on Godwith-us. It fills us with delight in obedience. It makes us fervent in doing all things for his glory.
But how do we sustain that level of zeal in the face of deep weariness, accumulated disappointments and draining uncertainties?
EM Bounds offers us one means of achieving that: “Prayer promotes the spirit of devotion, while devotion is favourable to the best praying. Devotion furthers prayer and helps to drive prayer home to the object which it seeks. Prayer thrives in the atmosphere of true devotion.”
In short, devotion fuels prayer and prayer fuels devotion.
Our zeal for God grows as we meet with him in prayer, growing in our sense of belonging to him and in our understanding of his incredible love and commitment to us.
I would add that our fervent loyalty to each other grows as we pray for, and with, each other.
Paul exhorts us, “Be devoted to one another in love.” How do we grow in devotion to each other?
As we meet with God together, we’re reminded that our brother is hurting too, that like us, our sister also falls short of Christ-likeness, that our co-workers are God’s gift to encourage us and fortify our faith. Praying together increases our sense of belonging to each other.
SIM’s annual 10 Days of Prayer, which this year runs from May 26 to June 4, offers us the opportunity to refresh our devotion to God and to each other.
We would love you to mark your calendars and encourage your team to dedicate time to pray together
during these 10 days. We pray it will be a time when we can unite in our devotion to God and to each other.
Prayer must be aflame. Its ardour must consume . . . A soul devoted to God is a fervent soul, and prayer is the creature of that flame. He only can truly pray who is all aglow for holiness, for God, and for heaven.
HOW SIM’S 10 DAYS OF PRAYER BEGAN . . .
Our 10 Days of Prayer begin on Ascension Day, which is 40 days after Easter, and lead up to the day of Pentecost.
This tradition became part of SIM after our merger with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF) in 1998. The 10 Days of Prayer were observed by churches
in South Africa (where AEF was founded) for more than 50 years, beginning in the early 1860s, and were marked by seasons of revival. During the 10 Days, we examine our hearts and seek God for blessing, provision and fruitfulness in ministry.
