Devote Yourselves to Prayer...Together

 

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” -Romans 12:12

A Godly desire for a vibrant prayer life will be tested in this world of pains and afflictions. Whether things are going well or poorly, whether in comfort or pain, rejoicing or weeping, I am to be “constant in prayer,” or faithfully devoted to prayer.

How do I persist in a vibrant prayer life when things are going well in my life? I am to rejoice in hope. How do I persist in a vibrant prayer life when in tribulation? I am to be patient. Whether I am rejoicing in hope or patient in tribulation, I gather strength from sweet communion by the Spirit with the heavenly Father through Christ in prayer.

Yet, we need help to obey this commandment of Scripture. To rejoice in hope, faithfully endure in all afflictions and trials, and faithfully devoted to prayer is a community project. The early church “with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14) and “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).

The hope of a healthy, vibrant prayer life of a follower of Christ that endures all things and rejoices in hope leans heavily on a local church that enjoys a healthy, vibrant prayer life together. Later in Romans 12 Paul commands us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” A rejoicing hope is not enjoyed in isolation, but celebrated in the community of a church family. A tear is not to be shed in simple solitude, but grieved in the community of a church family. And all of this in a love for one another which enjoys a healthy, vibrant life of devoted prayer together.

Often, we are tempted that our value in friendships within a local church family is dependent on our own usefulness. Yet, we simply rejoice with those rejoicing and weep with those weeping. There is an end to our counseling and consoling, even an end to our usefulness in labors. Yet Christ’s ability has no end. When hope calls for rejoicing or afflictions test patience in lives around us, we are called to devote ourselves to prayer.

Beloved, do not simply give words or deeds as a church family, but devote yourselves to prayer. Pray for and with one another in love for one another in Christ regularly. May we, the building up of spiritual stones, be made into a house of prayer. By God’s grace we petition for and with one another with thanksgiving in our hearts that His peace that surpasses understanding guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Guards to rejoice in hope; guards to be patient in tribulation.

Heavenly Father, make us into Your house devoted to prayer, pleading for Your needed mercies for each other considering other’s interest above our own. Be glorified in Your praying people. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God's Grace in Bad Days

“The LORD’s anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Your alarm rings. The morning has come. Another day must be started. “Oh,” you think to yourself, “I hope today is better than yesterday.” Does God have grace for bad days?

Sometimes, bad days teach us something. Other times, we simply have bad days. We think that if we capture the meaning, or the lessons, waiting to be discovered when days get hard we will find some sort of comfort. Truth is, comfort is always there. Whether there is a lesson to be learned or, as in some days, the real pain and trial leave us simply having a bad day, God is faithful and good.

This verse describes both pain from God’s discipline (remember, He disciples those He loves!) and when painful days are simply that: a bad day. God is still faithful and good. His favor, or mercy, is for your good and His glory for a lifetime. His joy comes when the season of sorrow is over.

You see, dear weak and weary soul, the groaning you have when days get hard match the groaning for redemption of all creation since the fall. Paul’s thought shifts forward in Romans 8, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Our weak, failing, aging, groaning, perishable body will one day put on imperishable, raised in glory, power, and spirit (I Corinthians 15:42-44). All because of the work of Christ, dying your death and being raised from the dead as victorious. Christ is our high priest who understands our weakness in bad days, tempted in every way like us, yet He is faithful and without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

God’s grace is sufficient, even on days that are rough. Even when God answers our prayers in ways that bring challenges. God is still faithful and good. God is “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (II Corinthians 1:3-5).

We may be wounded, weak, and it seems happiness is replaced with stress or an exhausted numbness. Even when you don’t feel like it, worship Christ. Pray. Pray in tears or groaning too deep for words, if you must. Sing. Sing the glad songs of a church triumphant in Christ. Encourage, even when you’re hurt. For He understands, He sees all your failings, and He is still faithful and good. God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Be humble before Him, even on bad days. For He has grace for bad days.

Heavenly Father, how weak we are in the flesh! How long must we wait for redemption, for Christ to right all wrongs? Grant Your church strength in our weakness, grace for our days get hard. Remind us once again of Your precious gospel! Remind us of the treasure we enjoy in Christ Jesus! Bless us, comfort us, by Your steadfast love and mercy, freely given in Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God our Present and Future Help

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” –Revelation 21:4

This verse comes to my mind often, but no more intensely than when I have the great privilege of hospital visits. We live in the time of “former things” which will one day pass away by the authority of Christ who rights all wrongs. 

On my way to see a Jesus follower suffering in a hospital room, I have a tendency to look into other rooms. I see people alone and hear them moan in pain. I am moved by the sea of people suffering without purpose, dying without hope, and lying in bed in loneliness. Current suffering finds no present help in any future relief.

The Christian’s suffering, by God’s grace, is a different experience. Not in the level of pain, but in the level of aim. Paul, who had suffered greatly, said “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (IICorinthians 4:17). We go through the same painful experiences that are common to all people, but we consider them “light” and “momentary” because Jesus will wipe away our tears for the final time when He completes His glorious Kingdom work.

Our encouragement does not begin in the future, but is present now. For our sovereign God also has purpose to our affliction. The heat of the fire purifies us from worldliness while we are still in the world to display to the world the glory of the grace of God. God is kind to us to provide such sweet mercies when we experience the deepest of pains as our present help (Psalm 46:1). What if afflictions’ purpose is to depend upon and desire our God more? This is truly what is best for us and for His glory. 

Even the afflictions that seem to present very little blessing to us now seems light and momentary when our imagination ascends to the joys of glory awaiting us. Our afflictions are light compared to what Christ took for us, and momentary because of the hope He gives us of eternal joys.

Our heavenly Father, give Your children wisdom to see clearly the lessons You teach through trials and a vision of the eternal joys that await us when we are in pain. Remind us daily of Your grace in Christ who took our greatest affliction, receiving the greatest joy of heavenly treasures. We ask for Your mercy in Christ’s precious Name. Amen.