1. As we once again come to the National Day Celebration, we do so with much prayer [an occasion that is also specially remembered and celebrated for decades on CCM Sunday], when our churches gather for worshipping Almighty God; we then specifically pray for our beloved nation, thanking the Lord for the provision of this cherished land that we call our home.

2. We also humbly and fervently intercede for freedom from the oppressive depth of religious, economic and political uncertainty, and the deadly penetration of gross moral deficiencies such as corruption that are clouding and enveloping Malaysia today.

3. We pray for the sovereign hand of God to grant common grace and protection to the different noble and sincere expressions by “awakened and changed people who are seeking change” for a just and righteous society in our community.

4. We pray for God’s care and touch on those in authority and in charge of security, that they will discharge their duties and responsibilities with wisdom and integrity in safeguarding the welfare of all citizens and celebrants during this Merdeka weekend.

5. We pray for the leading and blessing of the Holy Spirit, as all believers, including His people called Methodists, follow their individual conscience, and exercise their personal right and love for this country in a peaceful way as citizens; to gather and express, within or outside of the church, their prayerful support and concern for the direly needed transformation and changes for this beloved nation of ours in this critical season.

6. We pray that by the power and authority of Christ - the spiritual powers and principalities behind “money, sex and power” will be dealt with from operating at the very heart of Malaysia.

7. We pray that our Father in Heaven will sovereignly watch over all the gatherings, celebrations, proceedings and people this weekend for a peaceful, meaningful and transforming 58th Merdeka Day Celebration that will lead to a better future for Malaysia.

                           Together we heed the words of the Bible with faith:

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Mark 11:17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?

Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Psalm 126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

                                   May God mercifully bless Malaysia!

Bishop Ong Hwai Teik
The Methodist Church in Malaysia
26th August 2015