Prayer for the Church

John 17:20-21 (ESV)
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Are you ever awestruck that the Son of God, who holds the entire universe together, prayed for you and me before we ever existed.  Jesus prayed for those of us who would believe in Him through the words of the apostles.  Amazing.  Of course not long after this prayer He did an even more amazing thing for you and me.  He allowed Himself to be crucified for our sins.

I am frustrated sometimes because of the lack of unity in the Church.  I guess it should not be too surprising. While we are forgiven sinners, we are still sinners.  However, we do have the Spirit within us, so we have a great hope.

I read an encouraging post on Sheepleblog where the author, Derek, shares the struggles he faced as a pastor.  He makes a statement in his post that I want to share here:

“I am anticipating the days ahead because I know that Jesus is still the head of His church; He is actively building His church; and it is He who is the author of that desire within each true believer to connect with His people in order to become that “house of living stones”.

This is my hope and my dream.  I am confident in this hope because it is my own Lord’s prayer.

What is Abundant Life?

John 10:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

God has really been working on my heart lately about my own excess and the poor.  Maybe it’s good to go through these struggles from time to time.  Otherwise, it might be a sign that my heart is getting too calloused. 

I spent this past week at a Baptist preteen camp.  I was really looking forward to this trip because last year I had great spiritual experience.  I not only had a spiritual high for a few days but the experience altered my course of thinking for the long-term as well.

This year we went to a different camp and this year the camp only served to heighten my current spiritual struggles.  The camp theme this year was “living the dream” and John 10:10 was the key verse.

I loved the “camp” atmosphere.  There were canoes, BMX bike trails, a great pool, rock-climbing, and bungee jumping among other activities.  I loved the time with the kids.  I got to minister to a few of them, including my own son.  We had some great bible study and devotional times as a small group.

The part that I really struggled with was the way the kids took to the snack shack and gift store during free time.  Buckets full of money were being poured into candy, sodas, and trinkets.  As I’m struggling with how I should respond to the fact that a child is dying every 7 seconds due to lack of food, watching the indulgence by our kids at a Christian camp was seriously intensifying my struggles.

The teaching lessons to the kids was on living the dream, as in living your life for Christ and the promise of a fulfilled life and eternity in heaven (hmm, what about the resurrection - that’s another topic).  So, the message being taught in the worship services and the small group discussions was good.  However, what was the lesson we were sending on their hours of free time each day with pockets full of money and free reign on the junk food and souvenirs?

This leads me back to my own struggles.  How much is too much?  God has blessed me to live in this great country and he has blessed me with a great job, health, and money.  When is it wrong to spend this money on myself?  Where is the line where I say, rather than feed that one child for a month, I’m going to spend this $30 on a non-essential item for me or my family? 

On the other hand, does this mean I sell everything, move into a small house somewhere, only buy the bare essentials, and give everything else away?  Do I live as if I were in poverty even though God has blessed me with much?

Where do I draw the line?  Is this what it is like getting a camel through the eye of a needle?

Matthew 19:24 (ESV)
²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Prayer, Sacrifice and Expectations

Psalms 5:3 (ESV)
³ O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

David is confident that God hears his prayers.  He knows God is listening and he is confident that God will answer.  He prepares a sacrifices and watches for God’s answer.

Is this how I pray?  Do I pray with the confidence that God is listening?  Do I sacrifice to God each morning and then watch for His answers?

If you were to ask me, my intellectual answer will be that I know God hears my prayers.  However, I question how my faith matches that belief.  If I really had faith that the God of the universe is listening, praying without ceasing would be much easier.

How about that morning sacrifice? 

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Each and every morning I should present myself again to God as a living sacrifice.  I need to give each day to him.

Of all the lessons in this verse, watching may be the toughest.  At least it is for me.  Maybe it is a faith issue again.  However, even if I believe God is listening, I often wonder if I really expect God to answer my prayers. 

It’s not that I don’t think God is active in this world or capable of directly answering my prayers.  It’s just that rather than expect an answer, I expect no answer.  It’s like if I expect no answer, I will never be disappointed.

David sacrifices and then watches.  Watching here denotes an expectation.  He’s prayed to God and watches in expectation for God to answer His prayers.

I wonder how often I miss God’s answers because I do not watch expectantly for His answer.

God hears me even when he lets me struggle

Psalms 4:3 (ESV)
³ But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.

In my devotional, this Psalm about confidence in God hearing my prayers, made me think of when it appears God is not listening.

God loves me, he has set me apart, he hears me when I call to him.  However, sometimes he doesn’t intervene when I’m struggling.  Sometimes, I think He anxiously watches me struggle, as He purposely holds himself back.  He knows that, sometimes, I need to endure the disappointment and feel the pain in order to grow.

This year my oldest son participated in baseball tryouts for the first time.  His only previous experience with baseball had been playing with me in the yard and tee ball about five years ago.  He did great under the circumstances.  But for a little boy that is a perfectionist, he struggled.

As I watched, I knew it was painful for him.  I knew every missed catch and every missed swing discouraged him.  However, I also knew he had to learn from the experience.  He had to learn more than baseball that night.  He had to learn how to struggle and get back up and try again.

I wanted nothing more than to be out on that field with him.  I wanted to hug him after every misstep and tell him it would be ok.  I had to hold myself back for his sake.  At the end of the tryouts, while I know he was discouraged, I was proud.  My little boy had struggled through disappointment, picked himself up, and kept going.

So, when I’m struggling and I’m wondering why God is not making all of my issues vanish before my eyes, it may be because He is holding himself back for my sake.  I only hope I can make Him proud when I struggle and I am able to keep going by leaning on His promise.  His promise that I am set apart and He does hear me when I call to Him.

A New Day

Psalms 3:5 (ESV)
⁵ I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

I have often struggled reading the Psalms in the past.  Mostly because many are laments of David’s struggles and I often feel like I can’t relate to people wanting to kill me.

However, I’m getting better at appreciating God’s voice in these Psalms.  This verse hits home for me.  Everyday that I wake up is a new day God has given me.  Why has God blessed me with a new day?  So that He can work through me today for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13) which in turn blesses me with pleasure as well.  One day it may be to face a horrific challenge.  One day it may be to just enjoy the day that He has given me.

The point is, I went to bed and I awoke again, only by the grace of God for his good pleasure.  How do I please God today so that I may join Him in His pleasure?

« Previous Page — Next Page »