I want to thank all of you who have been a part of this 40 day prayer focus. I have been so blessed to read and share in your prayers. It’s made a difference in my life and, I hope,in yours. I’m going to take a break from the blog until Thursday the 22nd. At that time we will continue the prayer blog as an ongoing expression of community and intercession for Clear River and the world.
Fight the good fight. Pray on. Things happen when we do.
Our 40 Days are coming to a close soon. I wanted to share this essay with those of you who have struggled in prayer due to trials or hardship. David Head is a pastor in Lexington, Kentucky and authors the Ponder Anew Blog. This is his essay. I recommend him to you.
How Do You Pray with a Broken Heart?
Life happens.
Lots of times what happens is good. It makes you giggle for gladness. Your heart feels light and the world glows with the sort of feathery light that comes with early spring mornings.
Lots of times what happens is bad. It makes you weep for sadness. Your heart feels heavy and the world glowers with the sort of dark clouds that gather before a summer thunderstorm.
It’s fairly easy to pray when life is good. Praise and thanksgiving roll off the tongue with ease. God’s goodness is so real.
On the other hand, it’s often not easy to pray when life is bad. No matter our theology of God’s sovereignty, praise can get stuck in our throat. God’s goodness seems like a wispy memory of another time.
How do I pray with a broken heart? Well, obviously I can’t go with my immediate emotional reaction, because, quite honestly, being upset with God is not a great basis for effective prayer. Neither is self-pity or self-righteousness. I know, because I’ve tried all of them.
How do I pray with a broken heart?
+ I remember the cross. No matter my circumstances, this fact remains: “God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ( Rom. 5:8 ) The cross stands tall over all the mess of my life to assure me that God loves me – me!-in Jesus.
+ I pray somebody else’s words. When there are no words for my pain, confusion, hurt, despair, I borrow some-from the Psalms. I think that’s why God inspired and preserved them. “Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing…my soul is also greatly troubled. But You, O Lord-how long?….Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge….When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise….I am continually with you; you hold my right hand…He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust….Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever…With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy….Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God….(Ps. 6:2, 16:1, 56:3, 73:23, 103:14, 118:1, 142:1, 42:5)
+ I trust the Spirit’s groans are better than my words. There are moments for which there are no words, but “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Rom.8:26) Those groans are rich with the Father’s hope.
+ I hold onto the unseen hand of my Father’s providence. He is actively working “all things together for good to those (like me) who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28). Somehow, in and through this beautiful mess, my Father is displaying His glory, pursuing and redeeming sinners, spreading Jesus’ good news, expanding the borders of His kingdom-and shaping my life and character to be like Jesus.
These things don’t make praying in bad times any easier. But they help me pray…anyway.
Dr. Thom Rainer wrote an article for Christianity Today entitled Ten Surprises About the Unchurched. Based on three years researching the unchurched of North American, the survey produced results that may surprise you:
1. Most of the unchurched prefer to attend church on Sunday morning if they attend at all.
2. Most of the unchurched feel guilty about not attending church.
3. Ninety-six percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if they are invited.
4. Very few of the unchurched had someone share with them how to become a Christian. And Christians have not been particularly influential in their lives.
5. Most of the unchurched have a positive view of pastors, ministers, and the church.
6. Many of the unchurched have a church background.
7. Some types of “cold calls” (door knocking) are effective. Most are not.
8. The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian.
9. The attitudes of the unchurched are not correlated to where they live, their ethnic or racial background, or their gender.
10. Many of the unchurched are far more concerned about the spiritual well-being of their children than themselves.
Isn’t it possible that we have friends who are unsaved and, as Rainer’s research suggests, willing to hear from us?
Why not pray, right now about someone you might invite to Clear River and lunch afterward?
Father God, may your Holy Spirit work before us to prepare places and people, work alongside us to convict those we know, and work within us to empower us to speak boldly, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
We’ve heard good reports from the Trujillo home group outreach. Let’s pray that God moves among us to engage more and more of us to look for what He is doing and join Him. Remember our simple prayer from the beginning of our 40 Days?:
Father God, may your Holy Spirit:
1. work before us to prepare places and people
2. work alongside us to convict those we know
3. work within us to empower us to speak boldly
in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Good News!
“Satan Is Doomed. The ultimate victory has been won at Calvary, but it will be implemented in the future. The sentence has been passed, now it needs to be enforced. The enforcement is in the hands of the church. The tool that enforces Satan’s defeat is the tool of prayer. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4–5, NKJV). One person praying on earth can move angels in heaven.
Christians need to learn the power of prayer against Satan, for he will be defeated in his work. We are not engaged in the warfare if we are not praying against Satan. The judgment that was effected at the cross and is enforced through prayer will be completed. Satan is doomed. Satan is on a leash and he is only free on earth to the length of his chain. He cannot go beyond God’s permission. But if we don’t enforce his judgment in our own lives, we will be victims instead of victors.”
- David Jeremiah
We are in our final week of the 40 Day prayer effort. Here are a couple of current items that need prayer:
Ywam team in Bangkok: Andrew and his team will be working for a few days with this ministry that reaches out to male tourists visiting the red light district. This area of Bangkok is especially dark. Please lift them in prayer.
Let’s join the multiplied thousands who are bringing the tragic events in Myanmar and the surrounding areas.
World Vision International Reports:
According to state media reports, Tropical Cyclone Nargis has claimed at least 4,000 lives and at least 20,000 homes in Myanmar, triggering a full-scale response by World Vision. Some 3,000 people remain missing.
“News is only slowly trickling out of the country, but it is clear from the information already available that this is a major catastrophe demanding an urgent response,” says Dean Hirsch, president of World Vision International. “We know that some 2 million people have been hit hard. Many of them are already living in poor conditions, and it will be very difficult for them to recover from this crisis without assistance.
“My greatest concern is for the children of Myanmar who will be especially vulnerable at this time,” Hirsch continued. “We must get them shelter, clean water, and food as quickly as possible. The threat of the spread of disease is always at the door when people are living in such conditions and children are the most likely to succumb to illness.”
Please pray for children and families affected by this crisis. Pray for the relief workers and for openings for gospel ministry.
This passage comes from the book “The Kneeling Christian.” We don’t know the author of the book. When it was published the book simply said “…by an unnamed Christian.” The passage today highlights the idea of entering the battle when it comes to prayer:
In writing to the Colossian Christians he says: “I would have you know how greatly I strive for you… and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts may be comforted” (Col. 2:1,2). Undoubtedly he refers to his prayers for them.
Again, he speaks of Epaphras as one who is “always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect, and fully assured in all the will of God” (Col. 4:12). The word for “strive” is our word “agonize,” the very word used of our Lord being “in an agony” when praying Himself (Luke 22:44).
The apostle says again, Epaphras “hath much labor for you,” that is, in his prayers. St. Paul saw him praying there in prison, and witnessed his intense striving as he engaged in a long, indefatigable effort on behalf of the Colossians. How the Praetorian guard to whom St. Paul was chained must have wondered — yes, and have been deeply touched — to see these men at their prayers. Their agitation, their tears, their earnest supplications as they lifted up chained hands in prayer must have been a revelation to him! What would they think of our prayers?
No doubt St. Paul was speaking of his own custom when he urged the Ephesian Christians and others “to stand,” “with all prayer and supplication, praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all saints, and on my behalf . . . an ambassador in chains.” (Eph. 6:18-20). That is a picture of his own prayer-life, we may be sure. So then prayer meets with obstacles, which must be prayed away. That is what men mean when they talk about praying through. We must wrestle with the machinations of Satan. It may be bodily weariness or pain, or the insistent claims of other thoughts, or doubt, or the direct assaults of spiritual hosts of wickedness. With us, as with St. Paul, prayer is something of a “conflict,” a “wrestle,” at least sometimes, which compels us to “stir” ourselves up “to lay hold on God” (Isa. 14:7). Should we be wrong if we ventured to suggest that very few people ever wrestle in prayer? Do we? But let us never doubt our Lord’s power and the riches of His grace.
Let’s pray that Clear River will be a place where sickness in spirit, soul and body is healed.
Throughout scripture we are given every motivation to pray for the sick.
In Exodus God declares: “I am the LORD, who heals you.” (15:26)
David celebrates the Lord with praise saying: “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.” (Ps. 103:3-4)
Jesus ministry is described as a teaching and healing ministry: “Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.” (Matt. 4:23)
Paul lists “gifts of healing” among the spiritual gifts for believers to operate in.
(I Cor 12:28 )
James encourages the sick to call for elders to come and offer healing prayer on their behalf.
(James 5:14-15)
Let’s be bold to pray for healing! We never know when God’s kingdom will break in upon us and miracles occur. Let’s ask God to give us insight on how to be more effective in praying for the sick. We walk in the humility of knowing that we don’t know all that we need to and the realization that healing doesn’t always come immediately. Still, we pray in faith, confident that God’s promises are true and He will answer according to His wise dealings with us.
Let’s be praying for Bob Sturm, Jim Fox, Jim and Pam Burrowes, Gary Somers, and others in our fellowship battling sickness, physical challenges.
Shall we make time to pray?
“Let those that are great actives and think to girdle the world with their outward works take note that they would bring far more profit to the Church and be far more pleasing to God if they spent even half this time in abiding with God in prayer… Of a surety they would accomplish more with one piece of work than they now do with a thousand and that with far less labor”
(St. John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, xxix,3)
“When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do. And so on. But when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do.” – Dr. A. C. Dixon
“Something happens when I pray, that doesn’t happen when I don’t, therefore if I dont pray something goes undone in God’s kingdom plan for my life and the lives of others I would have touched through my prayers.” – Dick Eastman
“Prayer is ruin’s remedy, doubt’s destroyer, the cure of all cares, the antidote to all anxieties, the grand panacea for all pains, and the golden key that can open the gate of mercy!” – Charles Spurgeon
“Prayer is not a preparation for work, it is work. Prayer is not a preparation for the battle, it is the battle.” Oswald Chambers
Today we’re praying:
“Lord, let Clear River be a place of salvation!”
Look at verse 47 in our Acts 2 passage:
“And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
In Ezekiel 47:9-10 we read about the result of the “Clear River” flowing from God:
“…where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore… there will be places for spreading nets.”
The life of the river creates an environment where fish are everywhere. Nets are spread out to dry in the sun after the catch has been brought in. Remember the words of Jesus? “I’ll make you fishers of men.” The inescapable fact is that we are each a part of the great commission, each with a call to draw men and women to Jesus. Let’s ask God to work mightily among us, breaking our hearts for those that Jesus misses the most and giving us boldness as well as opportunities to share the simple life-changing good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
Let these comments stir you:
“Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be a blot radiating his dark influence outward to the very circumference of society, or he may be a blessing spreading benediction over the length and breadth of the world. But a blank he cannot be: there are no moral blanks; there are no neutral characters.” –Thomas Chalmers
“His authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the nations. His authority in heaven gives us our only hope of success. And His presence with us leaves us no other choice.”
- John Stott
Today we’re praying:
“Lord, let Clear River be a place of graceful influence.”
Part of delivering the gospel message is the impact we have on the surrounding community because of the grace that flows from our lives. Look at verse 47 in our Acts 2 passage:
“…all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
There was a gracious influence that flowed from God’s people into the community in ways that generated an openness to the gospel message. Remember the words of Jesus:
“God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill… I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven..” – Matt. 5:15-16 (The Message)
Let’s ask the Father to send His Spirit upon us in great grace and power. Let’s pray that our witness will be a light that shines in every dark place, causing people to give thanks to God and be attracted to Jesus.
Clear River Twitter Feed