presence

NCFI Cares: Wait, Wait, and Wait, BUT

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77ba6-ncficares_3bloglogoDear all,

I am going to share an interesting things here today for all of us. When we go outside for meeting people, we have to take an appointment and have to wait for that time and sometimes need more time even we have given a specific time.

We have to; Wait, Wait and Wait BUT

Interestingly, the Creator of the Universe, the Eternal God, has made Himself available for me or us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Yet I am often preoccupied with lesser activities instead of availing myself to His offer – His presence, His attentive ear, and His guidance. How sad that I/we would ignore so great an opportunity.

Repeatedly, Jesus said to those who would follow Him, “…come…”.  (Mark 1:17) 

He has made Himself available. Will we join today and this week in availing ourselves to the wonder of God’s Presence? We don’t need to make an appointment. Just take some time and talk to him, tell him our problem and come more close to HIM.

In Bangladesh last few weeks we prayed a lot, many people in many places for LAMB, for our staff safety, for our Bangladesh but that week is not enough for us. As a Christian leader and a Christian person, we have to pray to him all the time even when we are walking on the path, even we meeting with the people, whether we are happy or even sad, can just tell our God, please God blessed us through this meeting and help us to talk nicely, protect us from any evil spirit, keep us healthy, give us your wisdom and peace in our mind, give us whatever we need.

Guest Contributor:  Bulbuli Mollick, Bangladesh, NCFI International Board Member

Prayer Point:  Every issue of NCFI Cares will come with a prayer point to encourage your prayerful support of nurses around the world.

This month take time to pray for the leaders in your national fellowship. If you are unfamiliar with them, then click on NCFI Website. Look across the top menu and find Regions. Here you will find links and contact information for your national fellowship.

PRAYER WORKS! Acrostic for integrating prayer into nursing

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In the Christian Nursing 101 article Stand Firm with Prayer, we explore how authentic open communication with the Lord guides our response to our chaotic workplace.  Look for the article in Journal of Christian Nursing in April/June 2015.

In the meantime, check out creative ways to implement prayer into our daily nursing using the fun acrostic PRAYER WORKS.

P is for Presence—bring the presence of God to your daily work by offering spontaneous requests and thanks throughout the day. This is a form of living prayer.

1 Thess 5:17: pray always 1 Cor. 14:15: What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. Gal 5:25: If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.

R is for Request—ask specifically for God’s insight. Whether it is a complicated patient, coworker, or a difficult situation—ask God for his eyes, heart and wisdom; then pray and act with His wisdom.

Romans 8:26-27: The same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.

A is for Alert—be alert for opportunities to pray; colleague is worried about her marriage, friend shares their stress about their children—stop and pray with them.

Ephesians 6:18: With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints

Y is for Yield—yield to how God will use you through prayer. God will soften your heart for His will as he brings people and incidences to your mind. Be open to those who need prayer or a caring touch/word. Pray for them and then pray for them again, when you think of them.

1 John 2:5-6: But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.

E is for Earnest—be earnest in your prayers. Commit to praying weekly for your institution and unit; or daily for pressing matters.

Luke 11:9-10: So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Romans 12:12: Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.

R is for Record—keep a prayer/praise list is a great way to remember and reflect on how the Lord is working your life.

Psalms 143:5: I recall the old days; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on your accomplishment

W is for Word—use scripture in your prayers. The Psalms and the New Testament contain wonderful insight into how the word applies to our lives.

Psalm 119;18: Open  my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law! Verse 24: Yes, I find delight in your rules; they give me guidance. Verse 27: Help me to understand what your precepts mean! Then I can meditate on your marvelous teachings.

O is for Others—include your colleagues, managers, students, and prayer. Create a list and commit to pray for them daily.

Luke 6:28: pray for those who mistreat you.  Colossians 1:9; For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you… Ephesians 3:14: For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named. I pray that…

R is for Rejoice—gratitude and praise can be interwoven into our prayers and life. Be spontaneous with your praise and thanksgiving being reminded of Who continues to remain faithful and provide for us.

Phi 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! Psalm 69:30: I will sing praises to God’s name! I will magnify him as I give him thanks!

K is for Kingdom—we are part of the larger body of Christ and the work of God, so prayer for Christian nurses and health care providers locally, nationally and internationally.

Ephesians 6:18: pray for all saints. John 17:20: Jesus says, “I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me…”

S is for Sensitivity—when seeking to pray for patients be sensitive and complete a spiritual assessment, which includes finding out if Christian prayer is part of their spiritual life.

1 John 4: God is love and his love is in us thus, love our neighbors and love other Christians (paraphrased)