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Why Pray?
 By Gwyn Oakes
The answer lies in God's original plan. What God intended for Adam, He intended for the entire human race. He gave Adam and his descendant's dominion over the earth and all creation.
Psa 115:16 confirms this: The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's, But the earth hath He given to the children of men. God did not give away ownership of the earth but He did assign the responsibility of governing it to humanity. Gen 2:15 Adam literally was God's watchman or guardian on earth, God's representative.
Representation is defined as to present again, one who re-presents the will of another. For example, we are honored to represent Christ to the world. I present Him again as I speak in His Name! I act as if I am Him.
1 Cor. 11:7 tells us that God was recognized in humankind. Why? So we could accurately re-present Him. When creation looked at Adam they were supposed to see God, and they did until Adam sinned and fell short of the glory of God.
The earth was Adam's assignment. How things went-good or bad- depended on Adam and his offspring. So complete was his authority over the earth that he, not just God, had the ability to give it away to another!
Read the words of Satan as he tempted Jesus! Luke 4: 6, 7a And the devil said unto Him, "All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will give it." The part about the domain being handed over to him was true and Jesus knew it. He called Satan the ruler of this world three times in the Gospels. Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16;11.
God's decision to do things through human beings cost Him the Incarnation to regain what Adam gave away. He had to become a part of the human race.1Tim 3:16.The earth is a mess, not because God wills it, but because of His need to carry out His will through people. Mankind gave it away, He wants to be invited back.
Our asking Him releases Him to do His will. Satan says, (To Jesus) "No one wants you, this Kingdom is mine," And God says, Have you considered my daughters, the daughters of Zion?"
He said, "It is not my will that any should perish", but does anybody want me to save? Even when the Lord is initiating something, He still wants us to ask.
Read 1 Kings 18: 1, James 5:17,18, and Daniel chapter 9. It took 21 days to penetrate the warfare in the heavens with the message to Daniel, "Your words were heard and I have come in response to your words." I wonder how many promises have gone unfulfilled because He can't find the human involvement He needs.
If Daniel had stopped praying during the 21 days, God might have said, "come back Gabriel, Daniel has changed his mind. A decision was made in heaven. A man was called on to enforce that decision on earth through intercession and faith. See Job 41:11; Psa 50:10-12
Eze 22:30,31 I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Thus I have poured out my indignation on them;... declares the Lord God.
Paraphrasing that passage He said, "Had I been able to find a human to ask me to spare this people I could have. It would have allowed me to show mercy. But because no one cared or wanted me to come, to intervene, I had to destroy them.
Numbers 14:19, 20 Pardon I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people.... And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word. What responsibility!
We have an incredible invitation to be laborers and ambassadors for His great Kingdom and He trusts us to do the work through prayer.
Why Pray? Because He wants to know we want Him in our homes and into the lives of our children. He will not come uninvited.
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 By Fayetta Holt
Scott Adams once wrote "You don't have to be a "person of influence" to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me."
Just as Timothy was influenced by the faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, so was I greatly influenced by my grandmother and my mother.
One of the lessons I learned from my mother that stayed with me through my life, was "it's never too late to pray". My siblings and I were running late one morning and the bus was in front of our home. We were about to race out the door saying "we're late....we're late". Mother gathered us together to pray and said "it's never too late to pray." It's amazing how many times throughout my life that these words have come to me.
We have always made a practice of having devotions with our children as they were growing up. Just recently, I received a phone call from a friend of one of my daughters when they were in the first grade. My daughter had invited her to our home at different times. She told me what an impression it made on her young life for us to include her in our family devotions. She said her family had never done this; however, she had determined that when she grew up and had a family she was going to have devotions with her children before they went to bed. She is now doing this with her family.
Her phone call reminded me, that what was a normal practice in our home, became an unintentional influence in a young girl's life. Now, some thirty years later, her children are being taught the importance of prayer in their home.
Mother had no idea when she emphasized the importance of taking time to pray, that she not only was influential in her children and her grandchildren's lives, but also the effects of her influence went on to her grandchild's friend and now to her children.
Remember Moms...you don't have to be a "person of influence" to be influential. Prayer is important...and " it's never too late to pray". |
The Little Girl Inside  By Pat Vick
As a little girl I had a longing that has been a constant all of my life. When people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I gave the appropriate responses -nurse, photographer, writer...but one desire that I never said out loud always stood above the rest. I simply wanted to be grown up. No certain age in mind, just grown up.
It's a peculiar phenomenon, but now that I've undoubtedly reached the age of "grown up", I so often still feel like a little girl inside. As a child, teenager, and now as a middle aged pastor's wife...I still long to be grown up. In filling all the roles that are a part of my life, while putting on my most confident face, I'm still that same little girl inside.
This phenomenon isn't exclusive to women. I remember a conversation with my dad less than a year before he passed away at age seventy. We were talking about some of his antics as a small boy. He paused mid sentence and said, "Hmm, I don't feel old. I still feel the same as I did when I was that little boy."
Just this morning I found a child's sippy cup lid in my dishwasher. I asked, "Who used this lid?" My daughter raised her hand with a sheepish look. I responded with frustration, "You're fourteen. This is a bit ridiculous, isn't it?" I was immediately pricked by the Spirit and realized that this episode only confirmed what I was writing about. I softened my voice and added, "No matter how old we are, we still feel like that little girl inside, don't we?" She responded, "Mmm hmm", relieved that I had understood.
As Daughters of Zion, it behooves us to remember this phenomenon when we pray for our wayward children, no matter their age. Often we are tempted to respond to their childish, errant ways in frustration with, "This is a bit ridiculous, isn't it?"
We must remember, the young military man who has seen the unthinkable, and still hasn't given his life to God...still feels like that little boy inside. The thirty-six year old mother of four who just got another tattoo and won't let you bring your grandkids to church...still feels like that little girl inside.
Our children, from one to ninety-nine are all still searching for someone to understand. All experiencing the fears and insecurities of little children. Let us commit to praying for our children from a new perspective this year. After all, aren't you still that same little girl inside? Editors note: Pat Vick is the pastor's wife of Rushings Chapel Pentecostal Church in Camden, Tn, where she and her husband have pastored for thirteen years. She is the mother of three great kids, ages 14, 16 and 21. Her hobbies include reading and writing. |
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Editor's Note
 Thank you for your passion and burden for Daughters of Zion prayer. God is doing mighty things! If you have a praise report please send it to
Sincerely,
Debbie Akers, DOZ Editor
Ladies Ministries Connections
UPCI Ladies Ministries
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Mary's Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school each day,
T'wasn't even in the rule.
It made the children laugh and play,
To have a Lamb at school.
And hen the rules all changed one day,
Illegal it became;
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak His Name!
Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We heard gun shots and tears.
What must we do to stop the crime,
That's in our schools to day?
Let's let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray!
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From the Mailbox
Praise the Lord, Thank you so much for the message. It uplifted my spirtual growth. It's awesome. God bless your ministry.
-Sis. Elizabeth, Fiji Islands
We now have ladies reading the newsletter in Cyprus and Landstuhl, Germany. What a blessing this newsletter is. We appreciate all that you do to make it possible. May the Lord bless you abundantly.
-Sister Diann Tuttle, Missionary | |
Prodigal Prevention,
Part Three
By Bonnie Peacock
The walking wounded are present in every service. How do we know who is hurting? Who is in need of assistance?
Listen to the names and needs represented by the prayer requests in each service. However some suffer silently. Abuse, addictions, and emotional problems are often hidden.
Sometime clues alert us, and at times mishaps are on public display. Jobs are lost, marriages falter, teenagers go astray, mistakes are made, sins are committed, and shame comes to the best families.
When anyone begins missing church, whether the reason is apparent or not, a red flag is raised. Disinterest in the things of God, becoming absorbed with worldly activities, and avoiding godly people are indicators that something is wrong.
It is not our place to judge or label. Knowing what, who, why, and how the situation came about is unnecessary. Our only concern is that we realize - take note, someone is in need of assistance.
Since we do not know who is on the verge of walking away from God, we need to treat everyone with consideration and compassion. It has been said, "Lives are fragile, handle them with care." Why not? Everyone needs love, encouragement, and kindness.
Sometimes clues alert us, and at times mishaps are on public display. Jobs are lost, marriages falter, teenagers go astray, mistakes are made, sins are committed, and shame comes to the best families.
When anyone begins missing church, whether the reason is apparent or not, a red flag is raised. Disinterest in the things of God, becoming absorbed with worldly activities, and avoiding godly people are indicators that something is wrong.
It is not our place to judge or label. Knowing what, who, why, and how the situation came about is unnecessary. Our only concern is that we realize - take note, someone is in need of assistance.
Since we do not know who is on the verge of walking away from God, we need to treat everyone with consideration and compassion. It has been said, "Lives are fragile, handle them with care." Why not? Everyone needs love, encouragement, and kindness. | |
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Newsletter Sponsored By
Ladies Ministries
United Pentecostal Church International
Daughters of Zion Editor
Debbie Akers
Special thanks to:
Missionary to the Netherlands, Dianne Tuttle,
Anna Magdas who translates the DOZ Newsletter into Dutch and Bea Pakaila proff reads Dutch translation
Kristi Moore who translates the DOZ Newsletter into Spanish | |
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Daughters of Zion
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1999, World Network of Prayer Director, Thetus Tenney shared an interesting article with Gwyn Oakes about the Praying Mothers of Brazil. Sister Oakes had a burden for this type of ministry and Sister Tenny suggested it as a venture for the Ladies Division. The burden was shared with the National Ladies Committee. Ruth Harvey expressed a desire to work with the program and was chosen as director. From the many titles submitted Daughters of Zion was chosen. Debbie Akers joined as editor of the Daughters of Zion newsletter.
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