PHILIPSBURG–The low turnout on Sunday for the twelfth annual National Day of Prayer did not stop church leaders and public administrators from praising the Almighty. The service was held in front of the new Government Administration Building under the theme “Lord, give us vision that we may prosper.”
The ecumenical service began close to 6:30pm with praise and worship led by the Harmonics Team and band. Renditions were done by the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church choir and the Love and Grace Youth choir.
The Council of Ministers and several Members of Parliament were present during the service. Religious leaders prayed for Government, economic stability, the family, youth and protection, as well as against crime and violence.
Prime Minister William Marlin said in his remarks that there could be no better way for the country to start the New Year than by coming together and invoking the blessings of the Almighty on the nation, asking Him to grant vision so that the island may continue to prosper.
“But before going any further, we must ask ourselves what kind of vision are we asking the Lord to grant us, and what do we mean by ‘prosperity?’ Let me start with that famous quote from Proverbs 29:18, which says: Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. We often focus on the first part of this proverb and ignore the second half of it. Yet the link is obvious: lack of vision leads to destruction of a nation, while abiding by God’s law results in happiness,” Marlin said in his address.
“That is why today, when we pray for the Lord to grant us vision so that our nation may prosper, what we are saying is that we are blind without Him, that we are lost without His guidance and that we cannot make any head way in life unless we obey His commandments.
“As I said in my New Year’s address, Government’s vision is to build a strong, proud, healthy and resilient St. Maarten in which opportunities will abound for each and every one to pursue their dreams of happiness and prosperity. Our nation cannot prosper if its people do not prosper. And our strength does not lie in any army or weapons, but on the strength and love of our Lord.”
The National Day of Prayer is observed annually on the second Sunday in January, with an invitation to people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It is a way of bringing together the entire population in prayer to start the New Year on the right footing.
“So, as we thank Him for allowing us to begin another year, we must also realise that we are on this journey together. Government alone cannot take us to the Promised Land. If we indeed want to inherit that land of milk and honey God has promised us, we must not doubt his purpose and vision for us, like the Israelites did, resulting in their wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.
“We must seek the Joshuas and Calebs among us, and embrace their ‘yes, we can’ spirit. That is the spirit that leads to good success; it is the spirit that will bring prosperity to our nation. May the Good Lord grant us the vision of Joshua that our nation may prosper. God bless each and every one of you and your families, and God bless our beloved island, St. Maarten,” concluded the Prime Minster.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/62805-annual-day-of-prayer-observed-on-sunday
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