|
| |
September,
2005
Our Need To Pray.
[Jesus said] “’In that day you will no longer ask me
anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you
whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked
for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your
joy will be complete.’” (John 16:23-24)
It is the topic of this month’s installment of the Seven
Mission Responses from LCMS World Mission on the cover of
this newsletter. It was the topic of a recent sermon
mini-series. It’s the topic of a current life circle study.
It is also something that we know we need to do, but often
find ourselves just not doing enough of. I am talking about
prayer.
I have come to see prayer as very similar to eating right
and exercising. The Word instructs us of its value and the
Lord even models it for us. But somehow, we talk ourselves
out of it and into doing something else that fad or fashion
has popularized. When all is said and done, however, nothing
‘works’ as well as this basic activity commended to us by
the Lord – prayer.
If you would like to learn more about prayer, talk to me, I
may have some suggestions for you. But really, prayer is
ultimately as simple as coming before the Lord, offering
nothing but our receptive hearts, and laying at His feet
those things which trouble (or delight) our souls. One such
item that has been troubling my soul, and for which I ask
your fervent prayer, is our church’s current search for
land. Despite all our efforts, we have come up empty handed.
We have some things in the works, and we have not given up
hope, but I am reminded that now is when we need to be
praying – even imploring the Lord to provide for His people.
What we see today as obstacles, the Lord sees as
opportunities for us to gather together creating unity among
ourselves and at the same growing our trust in God. As I
have said many times – if we could do it ourselves, we
wouldn’t need to pray. Let’s seek God together to provide
something that is so big and so amazing that only HE could
get the credit! That’s what we want our whole ministry to be
about anyway, isn’t it?
Please join me at a prayer vigil on Sunday September 11th
from 6pm to 9pm at the Middle School. Come as you are and
come and go as you please. This is not a “scripted” evening.
The lack of structure is intended to afford us opportunity
simply to seek the Lord and give Him the opportunity to
speak with us by His Spirit. To God be the glory.
|
|
