Dear Praying Friends,
If you are in our area, you are listening to the rain fall. The Lord is at work. Falling rain tends to slow things down in my world. The Lord is always at work around us. As we pray, we sense the Lord’s presence and His plans unfolding in us and around us. Over the past few months, I have been deeply convicted about my weak prayer life. Talking about prayer is much easier than actually praying. This is not profound, but it’s true for me and maybe for you as well. One way we show the Lord that we take Him seriously is through prayer. Listening to the Lord is much easier while praying than it is while you are preoccupied with activities and conversations with other believers. I have recently been reading about and studying the life of CH Spurgeon. When asked the secret of his preaching Spurgeon often pointed to his prayer times and the prayers of other believers for him. Spurgeon took prayer seriously. I have also noticed that he gave himself to serious study of God’s word. Prayers coupled with meditative study of God’s word create a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Quiet time with God is crucial if we are to hear His voice in our lives. The discipline of “day and night” in Psalm 1 is a wonderful picture of what I’m trying to say. Folks, we really don’t have a ministry without prayer. Easier this week, Pastor Jamin, Pastor Chuck and I were discussing our yearly Passion Week devotional (available tomorrow). Perfectly written devotionals without prayer support may touch our hearts, but they won’t change our lives. That’s been my experience; I intend to learn from it.
Pray for Pastor Jamin as he preaches in the services tomorrow morning. Jamin’s message will draw attention to Jesus’ Triumphal Entry at the beginning of the Passion Week. Jesus’ entry in the Holy City drew hundreds of followers. It was a week of fickle behavior for sure. Pray for Jamin as he unpacks the details of this unique event in Jesus’ life. I am asking the Lord to open our hearts to these truths in a fresh way and give to Jamin great liberty to preach Jesus and the Gospel to us tomorrow. I am praying for an open heart and mind to receive the Word with a tender spirit. Join me as I pray for a powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ words in John 17 should definitely get our attention. Jesus could have taken us to heaven when He saved us, but He didn’t. He left us here to be His hands, His feet and His heart to the perishing. It goes something like this. “As My Father sent Me, even so send I you.” What a wonderful privilege is ours as disciples of Jesus!
A closing “Thank you” is in order. I know your prayers have made a difference in me and in my preaching. Thank you for praying… you are making a huge difference for the Lord Jesus and His church.
Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
PM <><