By Rev. P. J. Southam, PPL Board of Directors

For the last two years I was given an unexpected blessing. A local Christian College had a higher than expected enrollment, and needed help with instructors for freshman English. The president of the college approached me and asked if I would teach.  And so, for two years I taught classes of 18- to 20-year-olds. I taught grammar and composition. Most importantly, I taught them how to express their thoughts and be persuasive. Many of these students are pro-life and are hoping to make an impact for Christ in this world.

Because this was a Christian college, I got away with something I never could at a state school. I opened each class with prayer. I also prayed for my students at other times during the week. Usually, as the semester wore on, students would share things with me that they would like prayer for, and sometimes we prayed together.

Most of my classes were approximately 15 students. There were always more desks in the room than there were students occupying them. One day we were discussing life, and I told them that the three days per week when I was in the classroom with them, a feeling of peace and gratitude washed over me. I told them that those empty chairs reminded me that one out of four of their generation was conceived, but not born, because their life had been taken by abortion. I told my students that I was glad they were born, and that they were here in the world, and that I was grateful to know them and teach them.  

I promised my students that if they, or someone they knew, became pregnant and was in a position where they didn’t think now was a good time to have a child, that if they would get in touch with me or the president of the college who works with our local Birthright, that we would in no way condemn them, but would walk beside them and give them support and the resources they would need for a successful pregnancy and birth.

The semester is over.  I have been informed the college has hired two full time English instructors and I will not be needed to teach next fall.  Despite that, I still pray for my students.  Time spent in prayer is time well spent.  I pray for the day when young people will no longer have to face the existential questions faced by young people today, “It could have been me.  Why was I not aborted?  Why was I allowed to live?  Why am I here?”

Please join with Presbyterians Pro-Life in praying and working for an end to abortion.

July 1

Read Philippians 4:4-9 - Lord Jesus, we pray the apostle’s beautiful words over everyone traveling to Minneapolis today..and for all of those who’ll be praying for them at home. May each one travel safely, with a joyful, hope-filled heart. May their gentle strength be evident each day. May they be free from anxiety as they pray confidently and thankfully. And may Your peace, O God, the peace that transcends all human understanding, guard each one’s heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

June 30

Read Galatians 6:7-10 - Glorious and eternal God, may the words of Your apostle ring in our hearts today and in all the days of the GA. You are not mocked...people reap what they sow...and the church will reap what it sows. Forgive us for all the times we have sown to please our sinful natures and have seen harm come to our church. Help us to choose to sow to please the Holy Spirit, and from Your Spirit receive new life. By the power of Your Spirit, may we not become weary of doing good. And show us every opportunity to do good, especially to those who belong to our family of believers.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 29

Read Galatians 5:1, 13-25 - Forgive us, Jesus, for our sins. Forgive us for abusing our freedom to indulge our sinful nature. Forgive us for biting, devouring, and destroying each other. Forgive us for thinking “other people” need this prayer. Teach us how to love each other, including how to speak truth with love. Remind us each day, Lord, that our true freedom is IN You, not “from You”.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 28

 Read Psalm 77:1-15 - O Lord our God, as the GA draws near, we cry out to You for help. When we think of the problems we face in the world, and in the PCUSA, our spirits groan. We cry out for signs of Your unfailing love, Your compassion, Your mercy, Your promises. Bring to our minds memories of Your deeds, Your miracles of long ago. Your ways are holy. You are the God who performs miracles. Help us to look for them...and be ready to receive them. 

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 27

 Read Luke 8:43-48 - Jesus, as we remember Your healing mercy toward a woman in the crowd long ago, we lift up special people in need of Your healing mercy now. We pray for those who struggle daily with physical, mental, and emotional problems. We pray for those weakened by cancer treatments, for those who cannot walk without pain, and for those whose blood sugar is such a challenge to stabilize. We pray for a special, wondrous outpouring of Your strength for those participating in the GA who will find the long hours, fast pace, many steps, and hard chairs to be a physical challenge. And may those of us who are healthier keep a compassionate eye out for those who are not so healthy. Help us to be as sensitive and merciful as our Savior.

June 26

Read Luke 8:38-39 - Jesus, we offer the prayer You taught us, “Deliver us from evil.” We know the pain that the forces of evil inflicts upon the world and the church. As our GA prepares to convene in a few days, we ask for an outpouring of the spiritual gift of discernment. Show us what is of You and what is not of You. Help us to daily turn to You for deliverance from evil. And then, may each one “return home, and tell how much God has done” for us.

June 25

Read I Kings 19:8-15 - You know how deeply we care about Your Church, Lord God, including the part called the PCUSA. Often we are zealous, and feel as if we are the only one who cares. Forgive us for being self-centered and so easily irritated. By Your power, take our eyes off of ourselves so that we can look for You. Anoint our ears to hear Your still, small voice speaking to us and to the church. YOU are the Lord of the Church.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

I Kings 19:1-7 - Gracious God, You know that we are easily tired and discouraged...and the meetings of our church can be very tiring and discouraging. How quickly we say, “I have had enough.” We pray for rest in You. We pray for good nourishment to strengthen us for the journey ahead. Thank you for those angels in heaven and on earth who are sent by you to provide for our needs.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 23

Psalm 43 - God of truth and justice, we pray for Your light to shine brightly upon Your Church. We need Your clear guidance in our local congregations, our presbyteries, our synods, and in the upcoming meeting of the General Assembly. Too often it seems that the meetings of our institutional church push people away from You, Lord, instead of helping them to draw nearer to You. Call us to Your altar, convict us with Your truth and Your grace, so that Christ will truly become our joy and our delight, the focus of our praise. 

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 22

Read Psalm 42:6-11 - We fall to our knees in prayer, O Lord, for Your Church...
especially for the small part of it called the PCUSA. Through the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit, may what is so deep within You call out to the deepest parts of us. We pray that Your love will direct our days, that Your song will comfort and sustain us each night. In the midst of our own problems, fears, and heartaches, may we choose to put our hope in You...and praise our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 21

 Read Psalm 42:1-5 - Eleven more days, Lord, and the Assembly begins. So many who will be attending are already tired, overwhelmed by the confusing reports, the endless details, and the relentless focus on the “institutional church”. We pray for thirst...a deep thirst for You, our Living God. Only as we drink deeply of Your Holy Spirit, Your Living Water, can we be trusted to gather and do the work of the church. Help us to put our trust in You, and praise You, for You alone are our Savior and our God. 

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 20

Read Galatians 3:26-29 - On this day when we honor the ministry of Men in the Church, and celebrate Father’s Day, we ask special blessing on the men who will be attending the GA meeting in Minneapolis. Commissioners, exhibitors, staff, press, volunteers, visitors - we lift them up to You for guidance and blessing. And we thank You that we are all “sons of God” through faith in Jesus Christ. We know the words, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ.” Help us to live out that truth before, during, and after the GA.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 19

Read 2 Peter 3:17-18 - Gracious Father, we pray for a season of growth in our part of Your Church. We pray to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We pray that our words and our actions leading up to the GA, during the GA, and after the GA, will be pleasing to You and will bring goodness to Your kingdom.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 18

Read 2 Peter 3:14-16 - Jesus, when You gaze upon us, Your Church, we would love to be found “in peace without spot or blemish.” But we know that peace and purity are not often found within us or among us. Forgive us this sin. We are grateful for Your patience with us. As a sign of our gratitude, we commit ourselves to the study of Your Word with reverence and humility, with no twisting of Your Word to our own destruction.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 17

Read 2 Peter 3:14-16 - O God, the GA is just over two weeks away, and we are already weary...weary of reading reports and reading about reports, weary of learning rules and procedures, weary of discussions on matters we’ve discussed for decades, weary of trying to understand technology that may or may not work well. We pray for the gift of energy for everyone – physical, mental, and spiritual energy. And we pray for godly perspective, because with You one day is like 1,000 years and 1,000 years like one day. Thank You for Your patience with us.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 16

Read James 1:19-26 - Holy God, as our General Assembly time draws near, please implant these words into our hearts: “be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” We pray for Your Holy Spirit to be strongly present in all of us, so that we will be able to control our tongues and our tempers. We desire to honor You, Lord, by our thoughts, words, and even the expressions on our faces

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 15

Read Psalm 5:4-8 - Almighty God, we reject all wickedness, boastfulness, and deception in our part of Your Church. We repent of those things in ourselves. Help us to enter Your presence with awe and reverence, led by the abundance of Your faithful love. Lead us in Your righteousness. Make Your way straight before us–even in Minneapolis.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer

June 14

 Read Psalm 5:1-3 - Lord God, You know that not all of our prayers are filled with praise and gratitude. Sometimes our prayers are a sign...sometimes we even weep as we pray. Hear us as we pour out our hurts and fears regarding this particular part of Your Church. Hear us as we confess our sins...We wait expectantly for Your word of forgiveness.

From 40 Days of Prayer Leading up to the  General Assembly, 2010 by Presbyterian Elders in Prayer