The following piece was first written for the September 27, 2026 pew sheet at St Augustine’s Anglican Church. I share it here again in the hope that it may continue to encourage and bless.
Prayer is vital to the life of every Christian. It is how we come before God, seek his presence, bring our needs and concerns to him, give thanks for his goodness and ask him to guide and strengthen us. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, and Scripture repeatedly calls us to persevere in prayer. Paul tells us to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), while Jesus' parable of the persistent widow reminds us to "always pray and not give up" (Luke 18:1).
What is true of individual Christians is also true of the church. A healthy and faithful church is a praying church. Prayer is not simply one activity among many in the life of the church. It is foundational to everything we are called to do. We can make plans, develop strategies, organise ministries and work hard – but ultimately, we depend on God. Prayer is the engine and powerhouse of our life and mission together.
Recently we have been giving considerable attention to our Mission Action Plan. This is good and necessary. We want to be intentional, wise and strategic about how we serve God, care for one another and engage our community. We have also been reflecting on our vision for small groups and on our calling to be a multiethnic church – a spiritual home where people from every cultural background can find belonging in Christ.
But none of these things will bear the fruit we desire unless we seek God in prayer. So as we move forward, I want to encourage us to make prayer a priority. Pray daily. Pray for our church. Pray for our Mission Action Plan. Pray for the development of small groups. Pray that St Augustine's will increasingly be a spiritual home for people from every culture and background. Pray for our leaders and volunteers. Pray for those who do not yet know Christ. Pray for our local community, our nation and our world. And let us not become discouraged when answers do not come quickly. Jesus calls us to pray and not give up. We may not always know what God is doing, but we can trust that he hears us. Let us therefore be a church that plans, serves and acts – but above all, a church that prays.
Let us pray:
Gracious and loving God, you are our refuge and our strength, and you invite us to bring our prayers and concerns before you. Teach us to pray with faith and perseverance, to trust you in every circumstance, and to bring our needs before you with thanksgiving. Guard our hearts and minds with your peace, and help us to remain faithful when your answers seem slow. May we learn to depend upon you more deeply and to find in you our help, our hope and our security; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Photo: Horseshoe Bay, Port Elliot, South Australia — Deo Vistar.
