From Rolling Roads Baptist Church Reminder, March 2015
“Encouragement for a Praying Church”
Our church is a busy place, full of
busy Christians. We involve ourselves in many aspects of ministry
and Kingdom of God work. In all our activity, we can't forget that
one of the top priorities we have from God is praying. It is
an honor for Christians to share one another's burdens (Galatians
6:2, 9-10). However, the “labor of prayer” is not for the faint
of heart! If we take this work seriously, we will find how difficult
it can be. Often prayers are not answered in the way we expect, and
so we may become confused or discouraged. Sometimes we don't ever
hear of an answer; we've just prayed in faith and left the answer to
God. We are in danger sometimes of getting so engrossed in the
details of situations people share, so that we almost forget to pray!
I believe strongly that the foundation
for prayer is the promise of God. God is not unpredictable or
capricious, as some would tell us. Rather, God's people are in a
secure, unchangeable covenant relationship with Him through Christ.
God has made manifold promises to His people. Among these are that
He will not leave us hopeless in any circumstance. In Luke 11:13
Jesus says, “...how much more will your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” In Romans 15:13 Paul prays,
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.” So our labor of prayer is always an expression of
hope-filled dependence on the God of promise, who loves us and gives
His life to us. So no matter the challenges of prayer, may we always
fulfill the commands of I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's
will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Happy because of Jesus,
Pastor James
