Women Prayer Day (CD1, CD2, CD3)

Combined prayer for Central District 1, 2 and 3 at Bangsar Lutheran Church.

THE PRESENCE OF GOD (INTO HIS PRESENCE)

“What does it mean to be in “Presence of God”? How do we cultivate the presence of God?”, I pondered. “How can I pray unceasingly?” Sounds so big, so ominous, so unattainable.  Yet it is our heart’s desire.

So I decided to go for a walk around my “taman” (“park”) in my residential area.  As I started to walk, I could see the blue sky, clouds as I basked in the sunshine. I heard the rustling leaves as I  felt its’ soft wind on my face, I heard the birds singing and the naughty squirrels chasing each other.  I continued to walk up the slope and I started to pant and started breathing in more deeply. 

Then it came to me, prayer is like breathing. When we were born we took our first breath.  When we die, we release our last breath.  In fact, our life is but a breath.  In Genesis 2:7 it reads “the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being.” God breathed His breath of life into our nostrils and we became alive!

Prayer is like breathing.  When words fail, we simply breathe. We breath in God and we breath out and release everything back to God.

But any epiphany needs confirmation.  So, I contacted Sister Bee Yee.  Before I could even start, she was just so excited and shared about her recent rest and relax time in Putra Jaya Botanical Gardens, where she experienced the beauty and glory of nature.  How her heart was at peace and full of thanksgiving to God.  This was the confirmation that we both needed for the LCM-SWM (“Sisters’ Women Ministry”) prayer event for Central Districts 1, 2 and 3.  The big idea for the Prayer Event, would be centred on Creation as in Genesis, from Day 1 until Day 6 when man was created by God breathing into him the Breath of Life.  In this process we recognise:-

• the natural world that God has created,
• the priorities in the order of Creation,
• the intimacy of YHWH in our breath and
• finally coming to stillness and Silence. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 26:10

The reality of modern life, is that it is busy, hectic, noisy and sometimes just overwhelming.  Many of us carry fears, worries, anxiety, even anger, frustrations that we can’t seem to let go. I call it “The fear of tomorrow and regrets of yesterday.”  

What we need is to be present, to slow down.  Take a breath and simply breathe. Breathing and prayer is an act of surrender and trust.   After all, He is Emmanuel, God with us. In Silence we let go of striving, worries and distractions and simply rest in His Presence, just being, not doing.  After all we are human beings.  Not human doings.

Thereafter we shared this epiphany for the prayer meeting with the pastors and other ladies in the committee and it came back with a resounding “Yes”.  Rev Kathrin Zaha and Sis Jeannie Tan came up with the flyer “Into His Presence”. Siew Fun was responsible for communications.  The programmed was drawn up with the approval of all the Pastors including Rev Lui, Rev Kathrin, Rev Pamela Jau, Pastor Adeline, other pastors and the rest of the committee. Thereafter many people stepped in to help (with thanks). Su Shen and Nelson are taking the lead (in my words) of the “Dream Team” helping us dream and imagine. 

The Prayer event is a time for prayer, reflection, and meditation leading to silence.  The Prayer experience is an immersive experience accentuated with a soft mix of music, colour, lighting, sounds, shadow play.  The intention is to come into His Presence and just rest and just be.

Come, let us seek and experience His Presence together as a family of God this 25^th April.  Invite your friends too. It will be held on 25^th April 2026, 3pm – 5pm in Bangsar Lutheran Church, No. 23, Jalan Abdullah, Bangsar, KL.

Tammy Lam