Galatians 6:9-10

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Because you have kept My command to persevere… —Revelation 3:10
Perseverance means more than endurance— more than simply holding on until the end. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly. Entrust yourself to God’s hands. Is there something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.

God ventured His all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. There are areas in our lives where that faith has not worked in us as yet— places still untouched by the life of God. There were none of those places in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You…” (John 17:3). The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.

— Oswald Chamers

COVID-19 Crisis Prayer – Pastor Mike

Today’s Prayer

Psalm 67

Today’s Subject: Community Concerns

God’s Way: Pray the needs of our senior citizen will be continually met during the crisis. That they would not completely isolate and become lacking in resources and encouragement.  Pray that our senior care facilities and rehab centers would remain free of contamination.  Pray for our widows and orphans as they navigate this crisis in an already precarious life position.  Pray that single moms and single dads would have an extra measure and strength from the Lord in parenting their children during this crisis.  That our church and our community would take extra care and concern for our single parents and their families.  Pray for our homeless population that they would take great care to not propagate this virus and be extra careful in their hygiene.  That the needs of our homeless would not be neglected because of the crisis.  That as believers in Jesus and in community, we would take great pains with ingenuity to meet the challenging needs of all community.

God’s Salvation:   Pray that through the efforts of the church and believers to meet the needs of our community that Jesus would be glorified.  That any and all who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus would come to do so through the demonstration of love and care of others in this time of crisis.  Pray that conversations about need for our target groups of prayer today, our seniors, single parents, and homeless, that those conversations would lead to the goodness of God.  That the recipients of love and concern would draw near to God for their hope.  Pray for those believers among our seniors, single parents, and homeless that their faith would be strengthened and built up in this time and they would know and feel the full weight of the love of God through His Spirit and His people.

God’s Praise: Praise the Lord for His heart for those in need.  Praise God for His clear instruction in His Word to His children to care for one another, with particular concern for the widows and the orphans, our elderly, and our poor and homeless.  Praise the Lord the believers concern can be a product of genuine care and compassion from the Spirit of God who indwells each believer.  That there in no false sense of misguided compassion, but it is all for the glory of God and the good of those in need.

“God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your Way may be known on earth, Your Salvation among the nations.  Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You” Psalm 67: 1-3