Pray and Don't Give Up

    God says that we should keep praying and not give up. It’s all too easy to quit when the road is uphill and there’s no relief in sight. It’s often tempting to throw in the towel, to doubt God’s willingness or ability to intervene and go on with life as best we can. But God says, “No.” He wants us to persevere with absolute certainty in his goodness and power. Though we can’t always discern how he'll answer, we can relax in the guarantee that he will answer.
     I’ve started a new prayer journal that’s different from ones I’ve had in the past. In this one, I’m recording answered prayers on three different levels: those that have been answered in a day or week, those that have been answered after a year and those that have come to fruition after five or more years of prayer. I got this idea from one of the great missionaries who kept a journal of all his answered prayers.
     One of the first things that struck me when I started recording the answered prayers for the week was just how many things God had provided that I’d prayed about. Nothing is too small or big to take to him in prayer and nothing is a coincidence when it works out for our good and his glory. As I looked over the list I realized how much of my daily victories I take for granted -- like returning good for evil when someone attacks me with words or having the strength I need to accomplish a task way out of my comfort zone. On a larger scale, I saw so many answers to prayers that I prayed for many years like marriage, children, ministry opportunities, healing and financial provision.
     The parable of the unjust judge challenges me time and again to keep on praying even when I want to quit. If the judge, though only human and evil, responded to the pressing requests of the persistent widow,  how much more will our loving heavenly Father graciously answer us when we cry out to him. Unlike the judge, God doesn’t need to be persuaded to do us good, but rather he often tests us to see if we’re going to relentlessly cling to his promises, allowing them to dictate truth rather than our circumstances. He doesn’t delay in answering to tease or torture us but to grow and strengthen our faith so that we may be “mature and complete lacking in nothing.” Because he’s the God of all wisdom and power, he’s able to use our answered prayers for purposes beyond human understanding. Many times we think that our personal struggles are only about us when in fact they have a ripple effect that affects multitudes. Through his kindness and love in answering our prayers we’re brought to repentance for unbelief and our faith is strengthened, we grow in grace and knowledge of his love, others see his power and love and put their hope in him, advancing his kingdom and giving him the glory due his name.
     I don’t know what you’re praying about right now, but I have short and long term prayers that press on me daily. They include everything from practical needs to extremely complicated and urgent ones. There are days and weeks when I grow weary in standing upon the Word and asking God to answer. But God always eventually brings me back to this lesson of perseverance. I may go to my grave, like Abraham, never having realized certain prayers for loved ones or even for myself. But by his grace and the power of his Spirit I will persevere in asking, seeking and knocking.
            God is at work. He is faithful, powerful and loving. He knows the who, what, where, when and why of every one of my prayers and he’ll answer them at the right time – not a second too early or late. The question is not whether he’ll be faithful to do all that he’s promised, but if I’ll be faithful to persevere in faith and trust.

“I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Lk 18:8

God's Got This!

^“ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Rom. 8:26-27

     I’m relying on the truth of this promise right now. A friend called to say that she has no hope for living and isn’t even certain that she’s a child of God. She’s lost the will to go on. Her reason? God doesn’t seem present or real and has allowed her to repeatedly go through humiliating and difficult situations. She cries out for deliverance, but he seems silent and she can’t feel his presence.
     We can all relate to some degree. We enter into a relationship with our creator and expect him to take charge of our lives in a way that we can understand. But he works in mysterious ways which are often beyond our comprehension. We hit an impasse and don’t know how to pray or what to pray for in our struggle. But he assures us that the Spirit, who lives within our earthen vessels, knows everything about us and is able to pray for us “in accordance with the will of God.”
     At this very moment, if we’re children of God, the Spirit of Life is interceding for us. He knows the perfect will of God for our lives and is able to pray effectively toward that end. As my sister-in-law likes to say, “God’s got this!” He’s in control even when we feel out of control, confused and don’t know how to pray. Jesus, our great high priest, is also interceding for us as he sits at the right hand of the Father.
     I’ve been so anxious lately about our future, what we’ll do when we leave Korea, how God will provide for our family’s needs. As I sit down each morning to pray I find it increasingly difficult to voice my burdens to God. I know they’re present because I feel the weight of them, but I’ve buried them so deep I’m not sure exactly what’s wrong.
     Reading over this verse again today reminds me that I don’t have to understand all that I’m thinking and feeling. My comfort lies in the fact that God knows, and the Spirit has been interceding for me all along. He’s not surprised or overwhelmed. He’s aware of everything that I’m experiencing, of all I want and need and of everything he intends to accomplish in my life. And he knows and understands all that my friend is going through as well. He's not forgotten her or left her to fin for herself.
     I could sit for hours and “navel gaze”, trying to figure out why God is or isn't doing this or that and what I can possibly do or not do to change it. Instead I’ve decided to be at rest in my unrest, relying on the finished work of Christ and his guarantee that he’s not only called me out of darkness and declared me righteous, but that he’s able to sanctify me and one day bring me to glory. The Spirit and the Son are interceding on my behalf, praying that God’s Kingdom come in my life, that his will be done. Just as the clouds don’t diminish the authenticity and power of the sun, my circumstances and feelings have nothing to do with the reality of his presence and the certainty that his promises will prevail. I may not feel it, sense it or even see it, but God’s at work and he’s got this…..guaranteed.

"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" Num 23:19

He's Greater Than All Our Struggles

     Trials are a part of daily life that we can’t avoid in spite of ingenuity and planning. They’re intertwined with those things we consider blessings and connected in such a way that there’s no way to remove them. The only way out is through them.

     God says that when we pass through fiery trials we'll not be burned. And when we walk through deep waters they won't overtake us. "I will be with you," he says (Is 43:3). He's in no way indifferent toward us, but perfectly loves us, saying that we're "precious and honored in his sight." He’s jealously upholding us with his "righteous right hand" so that no one and nothing can come between us.
     The great God of the universe who spoke every molecule and atom into existence said that he will fulfill everything in his word. Because of his character, he’s unable to break even one of his promises, no matter how small. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the grave, he became the "Amen" to every single one of the promises of God. As we come to God in Christ we have absolute certainty that God will fulfill all he’s said he will do.

     The enemy of our souls enters the scene and tries to destroy all that God has accomplished, to discourage and defeat us with fear. But God says that we’re not defeated, we’re “more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.” The enemy says that we’re alone, but God says that he’s with us forever, “even to the end of the age.” The enemy lies and tries to get us to give up on God’s deliverance and power, but God says that "no weapon formed against us will prevail.” He wants to keep us from praying and engage us in constant fretting, but God says, “do not be anxious about anything. Instead pray about everything.”

     Satan tries to convince us to that we’re orphans, not sons and daughters of the king. He wants us to envision ourselves as helpless wanderers, not warriors who’ve been given all the riches in Christ Jesus. He sends forth storms, lies, sickness, mockers – anything and anyone he can use to undermine the work of the Spirit in our lives. Because once he’s convinced us that we’re useless, powerless, alone and defeated he can immobilize us and stop us from living our lives to the glory of God.

     Our God will (not may or might) but most certainly will supply everything we need. He’s not ever going to leave us, even for a millisecond. He’s placed his Spirit within our hearts to help us, to guide us, to forever unite us with himself. Nothing can separate us from this love.

      Remaining focused on Christ instead of difficulties is essential to walking by faith. This doesn't mean living in denial or trying to wish away our struggles. God calls us to face hardships head on, to  acknowledge their existence, to ask for wisdom about how to respond and then through his power and grace to take action. Sometimes the action he requires is patient waiting as he resolves problems that no one else can comprehend. Regardless of our situation, he wants us to know that he delights in rescuing and delivering us from the fowler’s snare and the deadly pestilence. He’s our Father and our King. Our Savior and our Lord. He'll continue watching over us and, with unimaginable generosity, supply in abundance all the courage, strength, wisdom and resources that we need. How can we be certain? Because his promises are all guaranteed.

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." 2 Cor 1:20