The 29 Day Challenge: Prayers for Waco

Photo Credit - Mark Stevens

These two songs have been on my heart today, as I pray for our city. In the midst of the brokenness, the poverty, the hurt, there is light in the darkness; there is hope; there is GOOD news. I've been praying that God would open my eyes that I may see where He is at work, that I may see those around me, that I may love as He loves.

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are

You're the light in this darkness
You're the hope to the hopeless
You're the peace to the restless
You are

Greater things have yet to come
Greater things have still to be done in this city
Greater things have yet to come
Greater things have still to be done in this city

- Bluetree, God Of This City
from the album God Of This City

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity.
Give me your arms for the broken-hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see.

-Brandon Heath, Give Me Your Eyes
From the Album What If We

"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" – Matthew 9:37-38

"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you. Pray to the Lord for it, because as it prospers, you, too, will prosper." - Jeremiah 29:7

About The 29 Day Challenge
As part of a series of messages on praying, Pastor Dan Yeary recently challenged us to set aside the next 29 days to pray faithfully and to intentionally seek God’s will for our lives and our church. As we continue to seek a pastor, we are praying for God’s direction & favor for our pastor search committee and that God would meet us, individually and collectively, at the place of our deepest need. I have committed to the 29 day challenge, to pray daily with my church and to seek out how I can more fully join in His work in the coming year. I plan to capture the journey and share some of my reflections along the way. Visit the full 29 Day Challenge series here.

The 29 Day Challenge: Day Three

Heading in the Same Direction

As part of a series of messages on praying, Pastor Dan Yeary recently challenged us to set aside the next 29 days to pray faithfully and to intentionally seek God’s will for our lives and our church. As we continue to seek a pastor, we are praying for God’s direction & favor for our pastor search committee and that God would meet us, individually and collectively, at the place of our deepest need. I have committed to the 29 day challenge, to pray daily with my church and to seek out how I can more fully join in His work in the coming year. I plan to capture the journey and share some of my reflections along the way.

One of the larger themes in my life has been the desire to join with others in God’s work, to be headed in the same direction with those with similar passions and purpose. There have been times in my life when I was fine living on my own and going off in my own direction. But that path is a lonely one. God created us for community, He created us to need each other, to value each other, to share life together in Him.

Last week, I had a dream, a dream that I was on a long bus ride full of other people headed in the same direction. It was authentic community. We were laughing and enjoying each other’s company on this long journey. It felt like family, letting down our guards and being our authentic selves as we prepared for the work ahead of us. Each of us was getting off at our appointed places, different stops along the way. Several people would get off in one city; a couple of hours later, others would get off in another place. We were all excited about the work that was ahead. And decisions had to be made – where was I called to get off? Who was I called to join? We were all part of one family, but we all had different functions, different places and different tasks that awaited us. We were all cheering each other on, because ultimately none of us could stay on the bus. I wasn’t sure where to get off. But I knew it required a choice, and I knew it was an important choice, not to be made lightly.

What a metaphor! As I continue to pray through the direction God is leading, I am reminded that I was not created to stay on the bus. As wonderful as the bus is, there are times that God calls us to step out into the messiness of the world around us and to join Him in the work that He is doing. I need to pay attention to the signs where God is leading, so that I know which stops to take, which tasks are mine to do. It is easy to get comfortable, sit back and enjoy the ride. But God has called us to more, to be busy about the work that He has ordained for us and to step out in faith at the appointed time.

I am praying today about where God would have me contribute more fully in my church. I have been content with my class and my life group. Yet, I think at times, I have been comfortable on that bus. And maybe God is calling me to do more, to find new ways to serve at church and to contribute to the larger body. There is much going on, many opportunities to contribute. But what is the best? And what role is God calling me to play? I continue to pray.

Does Prayer Really Work?

There was a time when I did not know how to answer that question. I remember in college, hearing a message one time that said if you prayed for anything for 30 days that God would answer that prayer. I remember struggling to think of anything that I had prayed for fervently for 30 days straight. I was at a loss. I remember coming back making up my mind to try it out with excitement and anticipation of how God was going to answer my prayer. After all, if God did not answer, then it must be I am not praying hard enough, or want it badly enough, or I must have unconfessed sin in my life, or God must not care. Right?

Shortly thereafter, I remember sharing my new commitment with a friend. Instead of sharing my excitement, he became outraged. 30 days? He looked me in the eyes and told me that he had prayed for YEARS for his parents to get back together, prayed for healing from the ravage of divorce in his family’s life. Where was God in that? Why did God not answer those prayers?

Stunned, I had no answers, good answers. I had heard some of the common sayings people in church like to say to make others “feel better” – just keep praying, pray harder, get right with God, God will give you the desires of your heart. Sayings all too reminiscent of Job’s friends who all thought they had the answer to Job’s suffering, that they knew what needed to happen to make things right for healing to occur. (See Job 3-36). I knew enough to know those answers were insufficient, as well as callous and insensitive. They were not what my friend needed to hear. I wanted to offer him something more. I wanted words of healing and comfort, but none came. Just silence, awkward silence.

I never forgot that sense of hurt and disillusionment in my friend’s eyes and in his words. Maybe you have been there, I have, when the answers do not come, and you start to wonder if God is there, if He really cares – waiting for healing that never comes, suffering through disease or burdens or loss. I know of many friends praying for husbands or children or settledness in work, praying for restored relationships with family and friends. There are many of us grieving broken hearts, broken lives, broken families, broken communities, and many of us have prayed fervently for God’s healing. We cry out for God to fix it. It is the yearning of our hearts to be made whole in Him, and yet sometimes all we have are broken pieces and silence, awkward silence.

Where is God in the midst of brokenness and suffering? Where is God in the midst of seemingly unanswered prayers? I have learned a lot about the inadequacy of false answers to those questions. When I am suffering, I do not want cliches or empty reassurances. Many times we do not know the reasons for our suffering or how long it will last, and we question if/how God can work it out for good.

One of my life verses is 1 Peter 5:10 – "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."

I love this verse because it is a message of hope - of a time when the suffering is over, and God has brought us to a place of restoration and settledness in Him. But I struggle with it, too, because it assumes suffering is part of the equation. It does not qualify how long we must suffer. It doesn’t say all will be made right here and now. It says there is a future when all will be made right - when God will wipe away our tears (Revelation 21:4) once and for all.

In the meantime, as we are in the midst of brokenness and suffering, here are some other truths that have encouraged me:

• God is control (1 Chronicles 29:11-13).
• He cares (Matthew 10:29-31).
• He hears our cries (Exodus 2:23-25).
• He cries with us (John 11:35).
• He has struggled & suffered, too (Hebrews 4:14-16).
• He wants to restore us (Jeremiah 29:4-14).
• He yearns to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:7-11).
• Suffering is not necessarily from sin (John 9:1-3).
• He doesn’t always say yes to our prayers or remove our suffering (2 Corinthians 12: 7-10).
• Yet, He is the Father of all compassion & comfort (2 Corinthians 1: 3-11).

Does prayer really work? Yes, my friend. Rest assured. It matters to God. It draws us to closer to Him and allows Him to meet us in the midst of our suffering and struggles. It reminds us of the depths of His love for us and our dependence on Him, even as we wait and as we yearn for His healing touch.

How, then, should we pray for ourselves and others? Stay tuned.

A Prayer for Husbands

This post is a continuation of my series of posts in the Marriage Feast. I have blocked out a couple of months to contemplate marriage from God's point of view, acknowledging some of my fears, seeking God's heart & design for marriage, and restoring what had become somewhat of a distorted view of marriage in my life.

Several weeks ago I shared A Prayer for Wives, a prayer I came across on K-Love Radio’s website. It appears it was inspired by the Sanctus Real song, Lead Me. Here is another prayer from this series, A Prayer for Husbands. These prayers provide a glimpse into what that Godly marriage can look like, one built on Christ, with a heart to love & serve each other.

A Prayer for Husbands

Christ Jesus, you have called me to love my wife tenderly and sacrificially, even as you love the church, but too often I know myself to be a selfish man with a distracted heart.

Please give me patience, gentleness, and kindness toward my wife, and the wisdom to value her for her gifts and ideas.

Teach me to be vulnerable with her, openly sharing my own heart and thoughts, hopes and fears, even as I seek to better understand her.

Remind me to be ever mindful of her interests and needs with each decision I make and to structure my life in such a way that she receives the best of my energy and attention, rather than the leftovers.

Give me courage to passionately pursue relationship with her even when I feel wronged or wounded.

Let me become for her a man of tenderness, kindness, creativity, and integrity, protecting and cherishing her by vigilantly guarding my own eyes and heart.

Above all, teach me to lead as you led, Jesus, in humility and service.

Only by your grace can I be a godly man and a good husband for my wife.

Lead me Lord, I pray.

Amen


Source: http://www.klove.com/blog/jd/post/2012/10/25/Prayer-for-Husbands.aspx
"Lead Me" by Sanctus Real Music Video

A Prayer for Wives

This post is a continuation of my series of posts in the Marriage Feast. I have blocked out a couple of months to comtemplate marriage from God's point of view, acknowledging some of my fears, seeking God's heart & design for marriage, and restoring what had become somewhat of a distorted view of marriage in my life.

What does a Godly marriage look like? Over the last month, I have looked at much brokenness in marriage, much that I don't want to do and attributes that I don't want to characterize my marriage, but I have not spent much time considering the attributes of the right kind of marriage.

I am fortunate that I grew up in a Christian family. I grew up watching my parents and my grandparents pray together. What an impression that made on me! And even though neither of their marriages were or are perfect, there is a strength that comes from that prayer, that comes from continuously acknowledging God as a partner in their marriage.

I came across the following prayer and several others that I will share in the coming days on K-Love Radio’s website. It appears they were inspired by the Sanctus Real song, Lead Me. These prayers provide a glimpse into what that Godly marriage can look like, one built on Christ, with a heart to love & serve each other.

A Wife’s Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have called me to honor and serve my husband in grace, humility and love, and yet I so often let worry, insecurity and fear overshadow that calling. Unburden my heart from worry and expectations. Teach me to relinquish control of my life and marriage to you, for only you are strong enough to carry and sustain it.

Lead me to a place of deep trust and intimacy with you, so that I would seek no emotional fulfillment elsewhere, but would bring to my relationship with my husband a rich overflow of confidence and strength, making of our home and marriage a peaceful, restful haven. Show me how best to love my husband, supporting and respecting him, praying for and trusting the work of your Spirit in his heart and life.

Give me the wisdom to value what is eternal, so that I might be truly content with my present circumstances, and not fretful or anxious over family decisions and finances.

Teach me to be beautiful as you define beauty. Let me be a creative and enjoyable friend and companion for my husband, gracious and kind, gently in disagreement and quick to forgive.

Only as you lead me will I become the woman and wife that my husband needs. So lead me, O Lord. Amen.

Source: http://www.klove.com/blog/jd/post/2012/03/07/PRAYER-FOR-WIVES.aspx

Next: A Husband's Prayer

For those of you who are married, how do you pray for each other? What role does God play in your marriage?

If you were writing a prayer for wives, what would your prayer include? I have thoughts & ideas not entirely captured here, maybe too personal to share here. What would that prayer look like for you?