Called to Pray

Not Forsaken Nor Forgotten

2.4.24

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God the father gave Jesus, Jesus our Savior gave His life as a ransom for many, and the Holy Spirit gives direction in our lives everyday. I believe we can all agree John 3:16 shows an exemplary, gracious, giving heart, and an Agape kind of love. As a matter of fact, just think of the price of this one scripture. Can you think of anything in the entire world that could meet this price that was freely given for us? I love that salvation was freely given, it makes God’s love that much more precious. It is clear, we can count on His love and giving nature. 

That being said, have you ever waited for a prayer to be answered? I have. I know my God is a loving, giving, God. Some prayers are answered quickly, some seem delayed, and let’s be honest, some just don’t seem to happen. What could I be missing? 

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I seem to lean on this scripture a lot. After all, I desire to be a better disciple, I long to be a better giver, I truly want my life to glorify God. I think my deepest prayer has been for my family and the legacy sweet Jo-Jo and I will leave. A legacy our kids and grandkids can reflect on and be strengthened by when we are gone. I think it is clear, we all have dreams and needs and we all get into troubles in this life. Prayer is our given weapon and we all lean on it constantly and need to be confident in its effectiveness. 

Let’s explore.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So right away, I like the above simple John 14:13 scripture much more than 1 Peter. Just being honest. Isn’t that how we all really feel? Pressure, growth, endurance, these are things that make me cringe a bit. Anyhow, let’s take a big breath and unpack this, after all, we know He is a giver and that He loves us all the way to eternal life. Therefore:

We can: Be glad for the wonderful day of joy ahead. 

We can: Endure many trials for a little while. 

We can: Make it, because these trials show our faith as genuine. 

We can: Because our faith is more precious than gold. 

We can: Stand on the day WE will receive much praise and glory. 

We can: Trust Him although we don’t see Him and rejoice with inexpressible joy. 

Let me leave you with a thought. 

Can we walk in maturity and trust in His sovereign will?

Can we love Him even in our trials?

Do we trust His plan is the right one for our lives?

Can we truly make Him Lord of our lives?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.

Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Friend, you are not forsaken nor forgotten. You are LOVED. Trust in the goodness of God. Focus on your faith and wait on the Lord.

Lord, we pray for strength to love You in all seasons of our life. In the temporary sorrows and in the highest of inexpressible joys. Strengthen us as we rest in Your shadow, the shadow of the Almighty. May we be found faithful on that glorious day and may we rejoice in waking each morning with a beautiful life focused on Your kingdom.

Amen.

- Charlie

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Loving and Praying for the “Unlovable”

1.19.24

Matthew 5:44

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Easier said than done, right?  I found it hard at one point, until God set me straight.  I was a new Christian, still soaking it all in like a sponge. I had never felt so free, joyful, and happy for each new day!  Then, I got thrown a curve.

I was sitting at home watching a talk show and on walks this young man about 16-years-old wearing a neo-Nazi uniform. He proceeds to tell about the group he belongs to and listed one-by-one all the groups of people they hated and why. He spoke of how he believed these groups were going to ruin the country and should be removed from society, etc.  His eyes were so cold and he was so matter-of-fact about it.  What was so appalling and scary to me was that I could see that he actually believed what he was saying! Then, in the midst of this, the Lord impressed upon me that I should pray for him.  And me, who talks to God like I talk to anyone, said aloud, “Lord, I can’t and mean it.”  I did not hear anything more from the Lord at that time and I did not pray for the young man.

Fast forward to the following Sunday, when, at a rodeo (the performances were normally on Saturday and Sunday and we had a cowboy pastor who did services for us on Sundays), our regular pastor was not available and he had asked someone to preach in his stead.  After introducing himself he said, “I don’t know why, but the Lord is telling me to tell a story about what happened to me this week.  I had not planned to share it, but here it is.”  He paused, and then said, “I have a prison ministry.  I was at the prison this week to see a guy on death row.  I had been there before for other guys, but when I sat down in front of this guy, the hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I knew I was in the presence of real evil.  He did not want to hear anything I had to say, that was obvious.  As I started to get up and go, the Lord said to me, ‘Pray for him.’  I thought to myself, I don’t think I can and mean it.”  Imagine how shocked I was to hear the pastor say the same words I had said just a week ago!  He went on to say that the Lord said to him, “His soul is as important to me as yours is” and he was immediately convicted to pray for the man and did. 

I started crying; I knew that story was for me.  God was showing me why I should have prayed for that boy on the talk show when he asked me to.  After this, I did pray for him and I did mean it. 

I have grown in my walk with the Lord over the years, and now I look at people through the lens of the Holy Spirit and not my own.  Jesus loves all of us, He died for all of us, including the ones I would have previously found “unlovable.” Now, through the Holy Spirit, I am able to pray for them earnestly by remembering what Jesus said, in Matthew 5:44.  Not in and of myself, but by following where the Holy Spirit leads me!

-Marsha