Prayer: The Gate

“You never know who God is gonna use, a princess or a baby.  Maybe even me or you.” song lyric by Rich Mullens.

I have a couple of very dear friends who are atheists.  I don’t know why.  Perhaps my purpose is to pray for them, and of course to share my faith with them.   I have attempted on several occasions to discuss faith, God, Jesus, salvation and spiritual awareness with them.  They think I am completely wrong to have faith in something I cannot prove to them.  They don’t understand my faith.  I don’t understand their lack of faith.

One friend was over for dinner this weekend.  His son is dating a lovely young woman who has been raised in the Catholic church and a private parochial school.  She knows her church doctrine, and biblical teachings, as well as the theology she has been taught since she was four. 

My friend wants a wonderful relationship with his son and the girlfriend.  I find they frequently engage in spiritual discussions, and he is listening to her.  She is confident in her delivery when sharing her beliefs.  I love it.  She is able to share thoughts I have not been able to with him.  I believe she is getting through to him.  I am praying for her.  I want her to persuade my friend to give God a chance to transform his heart and his life.  It seems easier for her.  She is not worried that he will think she is simple or stupid.  Does that hold me back?  My friend cares very much about his son and this young woman, so he cares what she has to say.  I don’t know that she is fully aware of this, but she is using it to evangelize.  She is gentle, and loving about sharing her faith.  It is awesome.

I think evangelism has become a really bad word, synomomous with obnoxious, over zealous, “don’t confuse me with the facts”,  my way or the highway, fundamentalist and intollerant thinking.  I will beat you with my bible until you get it and morale improves, kind of thinking.  Terrible things have been done in God’s name or followed by the words, “God wills it!”  I personally want no part of that.

My own conversion was brought about with grace and love.  I am always hoping salvation comes to each of us in a gentle and grace filled way.  I am always believing there is room religion for progressive thought. (Spoken like a true protestant), Luther, Wesley, and Calvin all founded new churches with reform and new thought.

Let us pray today that God will utilize our gifts.  That we let people know we are children of the most high God by our actions, our love and our grace.  If we see someone God is using to do wonderful things for his kingdom, let us pray for them.  You never know who God is going to use, maybe you or me!

Psalm 34:1 – 34:10

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear it and rejoice.
O Magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried and the LORD heard him.
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
O fear the LORD, you his saints;
For to those who fear Him, there is no want.
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger,
But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.

Life has an ebb and flow.  There are definite seasons.  When I am overwhelmed or not in good spirits, I read the Psalms.  They bring great comfort.  Seek God, and call on him.  He is there for all of us.

Most gracious and Holy God.  You are my rock and my strength.  I stand in awe and in fear of the maker of heaven and earth; the most high God. 

I pray for those who feel they are without hope.  I pray they will seek you even in their despair.  I seek you now.   Fill me with grace and wisdom.  Your word says if I seek you I shall not want for any good thing.   I seek you, LORD.  Hear my prayer. 

Instead of taking a whole plateful, or making a long term commitment; taking a little sample can be a good way to decide if you like something.

Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

Sometimes when churches get a person who says, “I can help with …(nursery, youth ministry, hospitality, finance committee, choir…) they plunge into a black hole from which they may never return.  Half a century later they receive an award for 47 years of continuous service with the finance committee.  They may have felt that after a year or two, they wanted to do something else.  Perhaps they were even “called” to do something else, but they were trapped and felt they couldn’t let people down. “Who would take over where they had been?”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”

It is important to find our place, to find where we want to help out and serve.  It is good to do something we love in service to God.

Listen in your prayers and you will know the season.  Let volunteers follow that nudge in their spirit from God.  There is a rhythm to the seasons of our lives.  Often times we have different things to share and give at different seasons of our lives.  Be willing to make a change.  Pray for your replacement, it could be someone is waiting to be called to take your place and you should not rob them of the opportunity to serve with their best as well.