Take it to the Lord in Prayer

If there was ever a time to come before our Lord in prayer more, it would be now. At the time of this writing, the voting polls are still open, and everyone is waiting and watching to see how the elections will turn out. We are still dealing with a pandemic that doesn’t allow us to meet and fellowship as we are used to and would like to. We see more division in our culture than there has ever been before and financial burdens increase for many families as many still remain without jobs. While these circumstances can cast a dark shadow over us, there is the ever-present reminder that God loves us, He knows us more intimately than we could ever imagine, and He has our future already laid out. The best place to put ourselves is in the center of His will. By that, I mean we should find peace and comfort, regardless of our circumstances because everything that happens around us is according to His will. I am reminded of the Hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, originally written as a poem by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855 to comfort his mother.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
  All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
  Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
  O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
  Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
  Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
  Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
  Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
  Thou wilt find a solace there.

We can reach out to Almighty God any time of the day in prayer, knowing that He is listening. But how can we be praying specifically during our current situation?

First, always remember to exalt our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for who they are and what they’ve done for us. Be thankful for ALL things that we have through Him.

Pray for the leaders in our government. These are people that He put in office for His purposes, whether we agree with them or not.

Pray for your spiritual leaders; locally and across the globe. Pray for your pastoral leaders. David, Michael and I are trying our best to care for the needs of our congregation and trying to make a myriad of decisions as we navigate through uncharted waters. Pray that we rely on godly wisdom and stay focused on Him and His will for direction. Pray that we would grow in our knowledge of the Lord. Pray for courageous hearts as we take the congregation where the Lord directs, even though we may not have all the answers.

Pray for one another, the congregation, the Bride of Christ. Pray that everyone would look beyond the raging seas, the distractions and voices that aim to discourage or deceive. Pray that everyone would keep their eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and remain in the truth of His Word. Pray that everyone would walk and serve in a spirit of humility and grace, looking to serve one another, placing their needs before our own. And pray that we would always shine as a light in the world and not respond as the world does in our daily walk.

And last but not least, Pray for the Lost, those who don’t even realize that they are lost and without hope apart from Christ. Pray that God would bring them before us and that we would be courageous in sharing Christ with them.

May we all join Paul as we pray for one another. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of His strength. 

Ephesians 1:17-19.

Love in Christ,

Pastor Bryan