Day's Diary

May 18, 2007 ~ Malawian Prayer

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Prayer is a part of every Christian’s life, but I am gaining a deeper appreciation of the place and the manner of prayer here in Malawi. Prayer, for faithful Malawian Christians is like breathing – an integral part of life.

The “when” of prayer here is always. We pray to begin and to end classes, but then we pray before we leave to drive to church on Sunday and gather to thank God when we return. Each week as I gather together with the group that is accompanying me for the day, one offers to lead in prayer. The group would not think of returning to their homes after the trip without thanking God for the safety. When an individual enters church here and takes his seat, the first thing he does is bow his head in prayer. There is no conversation with your neighbor because he, too, is praying. But this is not just among theology students, which might be expected, since they are the future abusa (pastors). This is the “average” Christian. Morning and evening prayers for the family are a blessing. I have had the privilege of being part of them in many Malawian homes and the joy of participating together with Charles and Alinafe over these last few weeks.

Student Christian Organization of Malawi

But much more than the “when” is the “how” of prayer that delights my spirit. There is a freedom and an honesty in prayer that is a rich blessing. Bessie gets lost in praying, forgetting that others are “listening.” Alinafe delights in prayer and gets excited to praise God for all things. Today in Chapel, Janipher Kachingwe, one of my third year students, gestured as he prayed, just as he does when he sings or speaks. Time is not a factor in prayer. No one watches the clock. A few weeks ago I invited my second year class to pray with me about a dispute that exists between two of the Synods over borders of the synods. This impacts many of the students from those Synods. Spontaneously everyone began praying aloud, some in Chichewa, some in English, some in Tumbuka, the language of the northern region. It sent chills through me as I thought of what that first Pentecost might have sounded like when each one heard the disciples in his own language. But possibly the most moving time of prayer was one Saturday when I escorted the leadership of SCOM (Student Christian Organization of Malawi) up to the dam on the Zomba plateau for a planning morning. I was invited to come to give the devotional meditation. Before the devotions was a time of praise and worship. We began by singing praises to God, many of the praise songs that I enjoy in Chichewa and am learning. (It is one way to learn the language, too.)  We moved from the joyful praise songs into more reflective songs and then a few of the students began to pray. Without words or instructions, everyone moved off to a space of his or her own and entered into personal prayer. This was aloud, but private at the same time. Some bowed, some knelt, some stood with hands raised. None was aware of the others, but each lost in his or her own time with God. As the prayers ended, one of the group began to sing and the group came back together. I was struck by how natural it all was. I led the devotions on “A Heart to Serve,” the topic I had been asked to speak on, and ended the teaching with foot washing. When I finished and closed in prayer, that spontaneous, individual prayer time happened again without plan or announcement. This time instead of praise, it was a time of commitment and consecration. People moved off on their own to bow before God in personal prayer. The Holy Spirit was palpably present. I can’t explain the sense of the presence of God, but it was so real. That is the experience that connects all of these prayer times – God’s palpable presence. I can only praise him for it. It is changing how I pray. It is deepening my prayer life. Malawian prayer is transforming my prayer life in ways I can’t fully explain but am certainly appreciating and am so grateful for.