Tag: Prayer

“A True, Godly Patriot”

 

Let us learn a powerful lesson from the words of the Prophet Jeremiah: 

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” [Jer. 29:4–8NIV84 emphasis added]

If we start with the understanding that we are sojourners here (1 Pet. 2:11), and in some sense “exiled” from our heavenly home (Phil. 3:20), then it follows that we are to build homes, etc., and “Seek the Peace and prosperity of the city to which [He has] carried [us] into exile!” …And we are to “Pray to the LORD for [our city], because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” So, to isolate ourselves from our culture seems to be contrary to this Word from the LORD through the Prophet Jeremiah (Cf. Jn. 17:15; 1 Cor. 5:10). A true, godly patriot prays to the LORD for the prosperity of his/her city. A true godly patriot seeks Peace and prosperity for his/her city, and this “seeking” is not passive in the least. It involves purposeful, prayer-filled intuition. At the very least, we can vote in our great nation, especially as we celebrate our 250th anniversary! But, some of us are called to much more in “seeking the Peace and prosperity of our city.”

What is the LORD whispering to you to do? 

Shalom,

Pastor Mike

Celebration Service

Join us each Sunday to Celebrate the Lord Jesus, His Life and Love for us.

As we Build Families Who Passionately Pursue the Lord Jesus and Live His Word.

Celebration Service

Join us each Sunday to Celebrate the Lord Jesus, His Life and Love for us.

As we Build Families Who Passionately Pursue the Lord Jesus and Live His Word.

Celebration Service

Join us each Sunday to Celebrate the Lord Jesus, His Life and Love for us.

As we Build Families Who Passionately Pursue the Lord Jesus and Live His Word.

Celebration Service

Join us each Sunday to Celebrate the Lord Jesus, His Life and Love for us.

As we Build Families Who Passionately Pursue the Lord Jesus and Live His Word.

“Have a Hard Time Breathing?”

I recently heard of a friend’s formal diagnosis of COPD. I’ve known for awhile that they used a nebulizer and often struggled with breathing. My heart goes out to them. Beyond the causes & cures, remedies & maladies, they still carry on….

Do you have a hard time breathing too? Occasionally, I’ll struggle catching my breath, but this is not a constant daily occurrence. Yet again, I know many that do….

As I was pondering this, I was wondering if people who do not pray frequently are like those who have a hard time breathing. Maybe they often struggle catching their breath, much like a COPD diagnosis?

Having a poetic license with no expiration date, I like to propose another explanation of the COPD acronym: Commune Often; Pray Daily!

The early church did; why can’t we?

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42 Holman Christian Standard Bible).

The Early Church communed with the Holy One and each other daily (Acts 2:46ff). They made it a habit. Should not we, also? Praying for one another? Communing with one another? Let us start off this New Year with some strong breathing exercises and change the diagnosis from clinical COPD to heavenly COPD (Commune Often; Pray Daily).

Join me in taking a deep breath,

Pastor Mike

“Pray without Seeing?”

Okay, so maybe I’m slurring a pun here, but let’s pause and think about it. How often is the exhortation from Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing” (NKJV), glibly said? Oh, we may pray without ceasing, but alas, often it is more praying without seeing, isn’t it?

I’m reminded of Elijah, especially because we have been praying for rain now for some time. And as of this writing there has been no rain in the valley…yet. Elijah prayed without seeing, didn’t?

Let’s look again at 1 Kings 18:41-46. In this passage we are reminded that it had not rained for over 3 years and apparently the time for drought was ending. So, Elijah “bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees,” and prayed (1 Kings 18:42 NIV84). Then he told his servant, not once, not twice, but seven times to check for rain. Surely some time passed between each investigation, wouldn’t you agree? And all the while Elijah continued praying without seeing. (His face was against his knees, right?)

The obvious question arises concerning our praying for rain. In anticipation of the answer I put the gutters down, even washed my windows, but I haven’t washed my car yet. And still no rain. I have had to ask myself, “how’s my praying without seeing coming?” Have I grown weary in praying… and not just for rain? The inventory was telling ….

Would you join me in continuing to “pray without seeing”? Maybe we can be an encouragement to each other? Beginning Wednesday, September 16, I am starting a once a month prayer-walk. We will meet at the church and begin there in our praying without seeing. See you there 7:00 pm?

Peace,

Pastor Mike

“Pray without Seeing?”

Okay, so maybe I’m slurring a pun here, but let’s pause and think about it. How often is the exhortation from Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 glibly said? Oh, we may pray without ceasing, but alas, often it is more praying without seeing, isn’t it?

I’m reminded of Elijah, especially because we have been praying for rain now for some time. And as of this writing there has been no rain in the valley…yet. Elijah prayed without seeing, didn’t?

Let’s look again at 1 Kings 18:41-46. In this passage we are reminded that it had not rained for over 3 years and apparently the time for drought was ending. So, Elijah “bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees,” and prayed (1 Kings 18:42 NIV84). Then he told his servant, not once, not twice, but seven times to check for rain. Surely some time passed between each investigation, wouldn’t you agree? And all the while Elijah continued praying without seeing. (His face was against his knees, right?)

The obvious question arises concerning our praying for rain. In anticipation of the answer I put the gutters down, even washed my windows, but I haven’t washed my car yet. And still no rain. I have had to ask myself, “how’s my praying without seeing coming?” Have I grown weary in praying… and not just for rain? The inventory was telling ….

Would you join me in continuing to “pray without seeing”? Maybe we can be an encouragement to each other? Beginning Wednesday, September 16, I am starting a once a month prayer-walk. We will meet at the church and begin there in our praying without seeing. See you there 7:00 pm?

Peace,

Pastor Mike

Do Not be Distracted

Another lesson that the Lord exposed to me on my sabbatical was: “Do not be distracted”.  It was consolidated at a friend’s church as he was speaking from Nehemiah.

Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. (Nehemiah 6:2–4 NIV84)

 Many people will distract us. Some will do this intentionally, but the majority will innocently “interrupt” us. But I have found the greater battle is internal. I get so distracted between a good “task,” “project, or “activity” and the best. I must pause and seek the Lord’s face prior to engaging in any activity. A simple, “Lord, what do You want me to do now?” prayer should be sufficient for most times, but the larger projects, do you think these would require a more deliberate special seeking of the Lord’s face?

Join me on this journey to stay focused and “not be distracted”?

“Prayer Warning”

 

“Prayer Warning. Prayer Needed. But not just any kind of prayer; Prayer filled with Thanksgiving and Hope is needed!”

Have you ever had this warning scrolling across the prayer screen of your life? I have. Yep, although I was diligently praying, my Whine-O-Meter was pegging the Red Zone! Then the above warning scrolled across my prayer screen. Ouch!

I stopped and discovered: “Thanklessness sours prayer!”

If I am not praying with thank-fullness, then my prayers are sour and probably stink a wee bit…. So the Lord, in His Mercy & Grace, redirected my attitude (after some confession) and thus redirected my prayers. Now they are filling with Hope as well as Thanksgiving.

Oh, I’m still waiting on some “urgent” answers, but at least the  waiting room is far more peaceful and calm—and hopeful, too!

Main Text— Ephesians 1:15–16 (NIV84)— 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ ….—2 Corinthians 2:14–15a (NIV84)

May my prayer be set before You like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.—Psalm 141:2 (NIV84)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father, forgive me for my anxious, whiny thoughts which sour my prayers. Fill me with the Holy Spirit of thankfulness and hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike