Pray for God's Help 1

Nehemiah 1:8-11

When we came to our current appointment, land was donated to the church and money was being raised to build a new parsonage. Before the work began on the foundation we gathered on the property and held a special service. In that service we prayed for God’s blessing on the property and the house that would soon be there. It was important to consecrate the land, the work, and the vision with the power of God.

Nehemiah is the man who is known for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and that is what the book bearing his name is all about. And here, at the beginning of this book, is the prayer of Nehemiah.

What does Nehemiah ask God to remember? What has God promised? What does Nehemiah remind God about? What does Nehemiah ask for?

Before he began his work Nehemiah turned to God in prayer. Before he laid the foundation of the wall he laid the foundation of the work, and that foundation was in the strength of God, the ability and success that only comes from God. If we are to face the challenges of ministry, if we will try new things or breathe life into existing things, we should first realize that we need God to be present with us. We must first turn to God and seek His blessings and strength in what we plan to do.

Our prayers are opportunities to be in communion with our Lord, but they are also opportunities to find strength and success. Our prayers can include requests for direction from God, instruction and guidance for where we should be in ministry, but we can also pray for God’s blessings on what we will do. Nehemiah was up front about his request – “Give your servant success.”

We need to be bold in our conversations with God. If you will be in ministry for God then both you and God will want to see success, so let us be willing to ask for it. Be direct, and seek God’s blessings on what you will do.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What success are you seeking?

Fan or Follower 4

Hebrews 13:15-16

I appreciate all the seasons of the year – the spring flowers, the summer heat, the autumn leaves and even the snow in winter. But when the weather gets cold and the snow covers the streets and makes them slick I want to wrap myself in a blanket and hibernate until May.

But I can’t do that. I need to shovel walks to keep people safe. I need to drive my children to school. I need to go to the store. I need to go to work. I need to go visit people in the hospital. I have to sacrifice my own comfort to help myself and others. And that is an act of love – denying my own desires, even if only briefly, to help others. It’s something we all must do.

Today’s passage from Hebrews talks about sacrifice. What does the author of Hebrews encourage us to do for God? What does he encourage us to do for others? Why is this good?

I see the weather as a reminder of life in general. Sometimes life is warm and wonderful and sometimes life is cold and treacherous, driving us inside, inside our own selves. But we need to brave the elements of life. We need to face the troubles and challenges of living so that we can do good for other people and for the kingdom of God.

It is so easy to feel defeated by the turmoil of life, to feel abandoned by God, and to think that the only way to make it is to be certain we take care of ourselves. But we need to trust that God is with us even in the darkest hours and the most troubled times. Even as we worry about the future we are called to offer praises to God for all of His mercy and love.

And even as we worry about our own happiness we are called on to share what we have with others. With such sacrifices God is pleased.

By being willing to share out of our meagerness, by being willing to give even when we feel we have too little, we are giving honor to God. In such acts we are praising the Lord who has given us all good things. By offering praise to God and by sharing with others we become true followers of our Lord, dedicated, loving and trusting children of our heavenly Father.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can you share with others?

Helper 4

Mark 5:24-34

I hate going to the dentist. Like most people, I am afraid of the possible pain and discomfort that will come with the visit. On top of that is the fact that I have a very low gag threshold and can’t stand to have anything in my mouth that isn’t food. When I was a teenager one of my teeth became abscessed, my gum swelling and turning red, the tooth causing incredible pain. When the pain I was in got bad enough that anything would be an improvement I went to the dentist.

We have seen Luke’s version of this story when we examined pistis – faithfulness – under the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus is moving through a dense crowd when someone comes up behind him. Why does the woman touch the hem of Jesus’ garment? What is her attitude? What do you think she is afraid of (see verse 33)?

Two things seem very clear in this story. The first is that the woman is afraid. What she is afraid of is not clear. It could be that she fears speaking to someone as famous and powerful as Jesus.

Maybe she thought she was not important enough to merit his attention. Maybe she feared she would be rejected as the Canaanite woman was (Matthew 15:21-28). It could be that she didn’t want to bother Jesus with her troubles, knew that she could be healed by touching his cloak, and in so doing – being healed without asking – she was being a type of thief.

It is also possible that she was afraid because she was embarrassed by her condition. To get the healing she needed by speaking to Jesus, she would have to admit a need and, perhaps, go into embarrassing details in front of others.

The second thing that we know is that the woman was so desperate in her suffering that she was willing to risk rebuke, embarrassment or rejection to find healing.

And I wonder how many of us are like the woman, or like me and the dentist. How often do we wait until our problems are so bad that we just can’t stand it any longer before we turn to Christ for help?

I believe Jesus wants us to need him. I believe Jesus wants us to go to him for comfort and help. We shouldn’t wait until we are absolutely desperate before we go to our Lord for help. Nor should we think of ourselves as helpless or vulnerable, ashamed to admit the need.

Jesus welcomes us with open arms. He wants us to turn to him as much as we need. And we should turn to him first, before our troubles push us to desperation.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Do you have a need or worry that you should take before Jesus?

Youth Week 3

Colossians 4:2-3

Several years ago I was out at local businesses trying to gather contributions of door prizes for a special dinner. After talking with a manager at one restaurant, and preparing to leave, one of the employees came up to me and asked if I was a pastor. She had been part of the transaction and knew I was connected to a church.

She was in need. She had problems in her life and was worried about her family and relationships. I offered what guidance I could and then we prayed together.

I have never forgotten that encounter simply because it has always served as a reminder that God opened a door for that connection to take place. A person in need of some spiritual assurance encountered someone who could help, however small that help was.

That is part of my daily prayer – that I can somehow serve God in what I do and say.

Paul was aware of the incredible power of prayer, and so encouraged the believers in Colosse to commit time and energy to the matter. And why does Paul ask for prayers for himself and fellow evangelists?

If we can pray for ourselves and others to have the opportunity to spread the good news of Christ, God will open those doors for that encounter. Not only will God present the opportunities, He will also make it easier to have those encounters, and He will make those times effective.

Our youth were presented many opportunities to pray for a wide variety of needs while at Summer of Service. They prayed for families in need. They prayed for those who were working to help. They prayed that the hearts of those with influence will be swayed to do their part in helping people in need.

They also prayed for themselves, that they might be an instrument of God’s good work.

These young people are an example to us all. We should each take the time and energy to devote to prayer, praying for others and praying for ourselves, that God might open a door for His message to be shared.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Pray that God will use you to share His message.