A month of prayer
Erna Johnson
The month of March is a very important month for those of us who put a special emphasis on prayer.
On 6 March 2009, we celebrate the World Day of Prayer - an interdenominational day where we assemble together in different churches around the world - many of which are Adventist churches - where we pray for a special area and its people.
This year our prayer emphasis is on Papua New Guinea.
On 7 March 2009, the Seventh-day Adventist world church organises a special day of prayer as well in the local churches. The theme is "Prayer and Love's Languages", where we emphasise spending time with God each and every day. Our church has been and continues to be involved in propagating the importance of prayer in a Christian's life.
As a child, I was taught how to pray on a regular basis. My mum would sit by my bed as I prayed my simple prayers each night.
As a nearly five year old, I remember praying every night for a doll that could close her eyes and say mamma. On my fifth birthday, when all my party guests had arrived, the doorbell rang and my mum asked me to go and open the front door for her. Thinking it was someone coming for my party I ran to the front door and opened the door. There was nobody!
But as I looked down I saw a long white box with a ribbon on it. On it was written: "To Erna from Jesus". I can tell you that I told all my friends that Jesus had answered my prayer!
It wasn't until sometime later that I found out that God had received a little help from my mum and dad to answer my request. But that didn't lessen my faith in God or His power to answer prayers.
Today as an older person, I realise that prayers aren't always answered the way we want them to be, or at the time we want them answered. I don't know why that is of course. I don't think anyone can answer that question to everyone's satisfaction. To me, it's enough to know that God loves us and that He wants what's best for us.
Join me in praying for the people of this world on 6 and 7 March.
Erna is the director of Women's Ministries and coordinator of Prayer Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific.
Find out more about prayer.