But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts and of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.

  - Psalm 71.14, 15

At one time he was living alone in that hollow rock, separated from the society of others and, as was his custom, dwelling in hidden places or remotely in the wilderness, so that when the feasts of the Lord or saints’ days came, he might, with his mind wholly free from disquieting cares, devote himself to prayer, and might be ready for every religious thought.

  - Jonas, Life of St. Columban, Italian, 7th century

There is, I believe, a direct correlation between the amount and fervor or our prayers and the consistency with which we talk to others about the Lord.

Pray much, witness consistently. Pray little…

The more we devote ourselves to prayer, exercising our souls and voices in praise, thanks, adoration, supplication, intercession, and confession, the better prepared we will be in mind, heart, and conscience to make the most of every opportunity to talk to people about God.

Prayer is a kind of training-ground for witness. If we talk well and often with God, we will talk well and often with the people in our Personal Mission Fields.

Columbanus knew this, and so he spent a great deal of time alone with the Lord in prayer. In prayer he sorted out his thoughts, reinforced his love for God, trained his tongue in spiritual truths, interceded for others, and discerned the Lord’s leading for his life.

He was a man ready for every good work – and consistent in them – in no small part because he was such a man of prayer.

From what I’ve observed, we have little time for prayer in our day, so it’s not surprising that we also do very little talking with people about our God and His glorious saving plan.

Prayer is the most foundational of all Christian disciplines, the most characteristic aspect of the life of a believer. Prayer is the touchstone and wellspring for effectively working your Personal Mission Field. Work hard at prayer and you will find that God uses that investment to sort out so much else about your walk with Him.

Make it your goal to praise God “more and more” each day, and you’ll be surprised to see how your witness for the Lord comes alive.

Psalm 71.14-16, 3 (Solid Rock: “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”)
But as for me, my voice I raise to sing in hope and constant praise!
With saving grace my voice will swell Your never-ending praise to tell.
    A Rock of habitation be! Command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

Help me to pray more fervently, consistently, and effectively, O Lord - beginning today.

What we’re all about
May I encourage you to visit the website, www.ailbe.org, and view the 8-minute video, just below the “fold”, which explains the values embodied in the Ailbe Cross? Everything we do is based on those values and designed to promote, nurture, and spread them as far and wide as possible. You can help us by encouraging friends to visit the website or by forwarding Crosfigell or Voices Together to them. You can also help by taking up the challenge of working your Personal Mission Field, using A Field Guide to Mission to help you get going and keep going. For your gift in any amount to The Fellowship of Ailbe, we’ll send you this kit, with the Personal Mission Field worksheet and three brief booklets to guide you in praying, witnessing, and bringing the glory of God to light in every area of your life. Such a deal! Use the donate button here or at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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