Waiting on the Lord...Persevering in Prayer
Thank you so much, friends, for praying for the classroom. I really felt the peace and power of Jesus as I taught the class and told all these stories.
Had a pretty good turnout -- about 25, including my wife, our son and two precious friends -- Lou Seckler and Carolyn Dycus - who have an enormous impact on my life in the area of intercessory prayer.
One of the most encouraging stories from the class was when Duane Jenkins, a minister at the Richland Hills church in Ft. Worth. He told of a woman who had come to Christ at their church who had previously lived in Abilene. She used to live in the Colonial Apartments, where Highland had a ministry. And some of the neighborhood walkers, ACU students who would walk around the area surrounding Highland and pray for folks. They had prayed with this woman, who later moved to the Metroplex and then eventually gave her life to Jesus. You never know what will happen when you plant seeds in the hearts of folks and pray for them. The Lord of the harvest is at work, even though we may not see much change -- or may have to wait for years.
And so to you who have been praying for a long time for a brother or sister who is far away from God, a friend who has not yet named the name of Jesus, or a child who is out in the wilderness of sin -- don't give up! Persevere in prayer! Keep asking the Hound of Heaven to work on their hearts. It may be some other believer besides you and me that will be used by God to bring them to the Lord, and welcome them back into the fold.
So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. -- Gal. 6:6, NLT
Jim
posted by Jim Clark @ 8:08 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Always encouraging to hear words on the subject of "wait". Thanks.
God has never given up on any of his creation, he just loves us too much. We, on the other hand, are not a patient species and would like to have everything fixed like fast food. We think that there may be one or two (at the most) solutions to our desires, while God's list of remedies is probably endless.
How easy it is for me to limit God in my prayer to the visible answer, instead of seeking his will.
I am reminded of David, as a shepherd boy, who had already killed a lion and bear. When he went to meet Goliath, he picked up 5 (count 'em --- five) stones. He apparently only used one, but he took 5. Probably all that would fit in his pouch. If I had to take his place, would I be tempted to expect God to only use one, just to show he was involved? Or would I feel it would be a lack of faith to take more than one? Do I over-think the problem? Yep. David didn't kill the giant with his stone, he only knocked him out. He killed him with Goliath's own sword... a completely different set of options.
God's desire is that the whole of humanity be saved. Our job is to believe that he has already claimed the victory, and take our shots as they come. Neither the neighborhood walkers nor the RH C of C brought salvation - they, with their prayers, were stones and slings and swords...and Davids, who became instruments of God's Peace. To pray is to place yourself at God's feet as his tool, and we become David, or sling, or stone, or sword, taking our shots as he offers them; and knowing he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
Excellent words, G-ampa c. I love the analogy of David's 5 stones symbolizing our prayers.
"To pray is to place yourself at God's feet as his tool..." I love that.
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