Praise God that the church held its first-ever Prayer Dawn Watch on December 30, 2023. Around thirty church members gathered at Shatti Beach in Qurum. Since it was the winter season, the weather in Muscat was cold, and it was not easy to wake up, since one would rather sleep. But as early as 5:30 AM , people started coming. December 30 is the best time to hold this event, before the new year. Nothing is better than celebrating the goodness of our Lord.
Before sunrise, I briefly explained what Dawn Watch is and why the Prayer Ministry had it. A Prayer Dawn Watch is not literally watching the sunrise; it is worshiping and praying to God before sunrise. Why do we need to do this? First, it is because Jesus did it, as is written in Mark 1:35: “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” Jesus wants to hear from us first thing in the morning. Second, seeking the Lord first makes a big difference. God will lead and guide our day. There’s never a wrong time to talk to God. But when we start our morning with Him, we are handing over the rest of our day to Him, too – putting God in the driver’s seat. Imagine God turning our worries into peace of mind.
Brother Joey led everyone in prayer, setting a peaceful tone. After that, Sister Ranzel led everyone in a Tagalog Worship song. Brother Alex shared a simple but important message about always being happy, praying all the time, and being thankful no matter what happens. This message was based on a few lines from the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) that say: “Always find reasons to be happy, keep talking to God, and be thankful in good and bad times.”
After that, we were split into smaller groups to pray for one another’s prayer requests. Then, we proceeded to a corporate prayer. Together, we thanked Almighty God for His faithfulness and blessings for these twelve significant items: Oman, the Philippines, OECC, Church Leaders, Coordinators and Volunteer Workers, our Families, Healing, Provision, Protection, Wisdom, Opportunities that we share the Gospel, and Spiritual Growth. Brother Jhe then led the culmination prayer. Some of our brethren shared their remarkable blessings for 2023, including Brothers Ray, Joey, Lester, Klen, and Sister Chel.
To conclude the event, bookmarks were given to read aloud. These were verses of thanksgiving from the book of Psalms. Brother Randie closed the gathering with a prayer. Then, everyone shared a meal together, enjoying each other’s company until the event ended at 8:00 am.
This Dawn Watch was a time for everyone to unite, share faith, and remind each other to live with happiness, constant prayer, and daily thankfulness.
