March 2021 Message from Pastor Greg

Finding Hope in Prayer & Peace in His Promises! 

Recently I’ve been thinking about a saying I’ve heard several times over the years. It’s been attributed to two different people for whom I have great respect, so I’ll give credit for this relevant reminder to both Corrie Ten Boom and Elizabeth Elliott. “God hasn’t called us to the playground, but He has asked us to serve Him on the battleground.” For most of us, it’s probably obvious that many of our biblical views and values are being challenged and because we’re faithful followers of Christ, we are involved in a spiritual battle. It should also be clearly evident that we can never be properly prepared or equipped for battle without prayer!  What I’d like to do in this article is simply encourage everyone to obey Paul’s instructions in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing.” If we can be honest with ourselves, finding time to pray is a significant part of the battle that many of us are facing. Before I begin, I want to admit that I’ve repeatedly studied what the Bible teaches about prayer for many years, but I sincerely believe that I’ve just scratched the surface of grasping the depths of all that’s involved when we enter into God’s throne room.

There’s an encouraging statement that Paul used frequently in his New Testament letters and it seems to emphasize the priority he placed on praying for the people in those specific churches. For example, notice Colossians 1:3, “We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” He says something similar in 1 Thessalonians 1:2, “We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers.” As I pause to reflect on this, I realize that Paul didn’t have any of the technological advancements (or should we call them distractions?) that we have. He couldn’t make immediate contact with anyone unless he was in close proximity. But he invested in the lives of people by taking time to pray!

Another biblical principle related to prayer that comes to my mind involves dealing with times when anxiety, worry, fear, or concern become overwhelming or unsettling. Peter provided a remedy for that in 1 Peter 5:6—7. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Paul told his Philippian friends that whenever they became anxious, they should pray and gratefully anticipate God to supply what’s needed by making “your requests be made known to God.” He goes on to say that “the magnificent and mysterious peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Essentially, these instructions teach us that prayer involves humbly placing ourselves under God’s authority as we ask Him to help us follow His will, honestly expressing our desires, concerns, and gratitude, and hopefully trusting Him to provide what’s best for us. When we pray, we’re never telling God something He doesn’t know and we’re claiming His promise that He will care for us and give us peace.

There are many more principles and truths that could be included in any discussion about prayer, but there’s one more aspect that I believe needs to be included. 1 John 1:9 is a vivid reminder to us that keeping short accounts with God about our actions and attitudes is important. Notice what it says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” As a faithful followers of Christ, we’re assured that Christ paid the penalty for our sins. There is no condemnation for those who are dependent on what Jesus accomplished for us in His death, burial, and resurrection. But there are moments when we might be burdened by a sense of guilt or grief because of sin. Passionate prayer for peace and personal prayer of gratitude for God’s forgiveness is not only a remedy—it’s also a reminder that might come to mind when we’re tempted to do, say, or think something that might be disobedient to God.

I pray that this is an encouragement for everyone to find greater enjoyment in the privilege of prayer!

With prayer for God’s glory and praise for His grace …

And as always, with prayer for our ACEFC family,  Pastor Greg 

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