When All You Can Do is Pray...

Am I the only one who had a tough time in 2016? Raise your hand if last year was full of ups and downs.  (I’m raising both hands and both feet!) I feel like I am simply treading water as I limp into 2017.  What about you?

From health issues to emergencies to even the state of our country, 2016 had me wondering what to do next.  There were so many times when I dreaded when the phone would ring because it was only going to bring bad news.  I was afraid to check my email, fearful of what I might find.  Not to mention my Facebook newsfeed. People are scared and hurting. And so many of these instances were out of my control.  Some, deeply far from my grasp.

When we find ourselves in those times...  Difficult, trying, even downright scary times... What do we do?

Pray.

I know that sounds so easy to throw out there.  But I am telling you from experience, when you don’t know what to do – pray.  When there is nothing you can do but pray – pray!

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 (NIV) (Emphasis mine.)

I think I have lost count of the number of times in the last 6 months that I have dropped everything because there was an urgent need that I felt compelled to pray about.  An event that I simply needed to stop and bring to the throne of Jesus in prayer.  It just was such a great need, I had to press pause in my day and intercede for loved ones and friends.  Waiting for a quiet moment later was not an option.  I needed to take a few minutes right there, right then and fall to my knees in prayer.  Sweet friends, I urge you, when all you can do is pray – PRAY!

“Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.” Psalm 69:16 (NLT)

We can’t control everything.  We don’t know all the answers.  Try as we might, we can’t fix everything either.  But, we know the One who does and can! It is through prayer that we bring to the Lord what is on our hearts not only for ourselves but what our heart is toward others.  When your heart is breaking for a friend or loved one, lifting them up in prayer is such a treasure.

Even in those times when maybe the request isn’t so urgent, don’t neglect praying for others.  When you tell someone that you will pray for them, be sure to follow through. By the way, I’ve never had someone not say “thank you” when you’ve revealed to them that you are praying or have prayed for them.  I’ve yet to come across a person, believer or otherwise, who has said they would rather I didn’t pray for them. And come to think of it, don’t you love to hear when people share that they have been praying for you?!  Doesn’t it make your heart happy to know others are bringing your needs to Jesus too?! So make sure you bring your prayers to God for others as you would want others to pray for you.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:19 (NIV)

When situations come up that you are completely powerless to do anything about, bowing down to the Lord in prayer instead of cowering in fear; it’s a way to put our faith into action. We are approaching the throne of mercy and believing God is hearing our pleas. We are trusting Him to answer according to His will. And He will answer...

Prayer

Releases

All

Your

Eternal

Resources

-        Richard A. Burr

Post by: Marcy Gates

With Full Abandon

During our Christmas Eve service at West Ridge, I was reminded of a quote from Anne Lamott... which we will get to in just a moment.  It was during our time of worship and the worship team did this really funky and cool intro to get started. Pastor Erik encouraged us all to let go and just praise like a child. I watched my five year old move his entire body to the music and oh my, how I wanted to do the same! Throughout the rest of worship I thought of this quote and as you read on you will see how God made it my own.

(Now bear with me as you read… it will all make sense as you keep going!)

“Oh my God. What if you wake up some day and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because our thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just to strung out on perfectionism and people pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen. Repent just means to change direction—and NOT to be said by someone who is wagging their forefinger at you. Repentance is a blessing. Pick a new direction, one you wouldn’t mind ending up at and aim for that. Shoot the moon.” ---Anne Lamott

In full disclosure, I haven’t read much of Anne Lamott but I came across this quote about a year and half ago and it changed the way I was looking at my life. It was a very freeing turn!

And so as I watched my boy, Maxson, and lifted my own hands with a huge smile on my face, I thought, “Oh my goodness! What if I reach the end of my life and I never praised God with full abandon? What if I never shouted His name in praise, or fell on my face before my King? What if I never danced for Jesus or lifted my thanksgiving because I was too worried about what everyone behind would think? What a tragedy that would be!” And I wanted to full out dance and shout right there.

But I didn’t.

Because no one else was.

My fear of being the only person, or fear of what other people might think held me back from really going for it.

I’d like to take you on a short journey if I may. During my more formative years the church congregation I was a part of was pretty conservative (nothing wrong with that at all), bringing out the tambourine was wild and crazy for us. So when I got to college and I witnessed folks raising their hands, clapping, jumping and dancing, I wanted more of what they had. But I was way too shy. The Lord has done and amazing work in my heart but still my fear hold me back. Deep down, what I really want is to just go all out for Jesus. And you know that might even look different every time! Sometimes it could mean dancing and jumping around and other times it could mean bowing in reverence and honor.

So as we enter this new year, 2017, I want to be ready to praise God in whatever way He is leading me. No more holding myself back due to overthinking and fear of judgment. I would like to encourage you to try the same. When you feel the Lord impressing you to lift your hands but that is not the norm for you, do it anyway! Do it and break down those barriers, knock down those walls. Don’t think about anyone else around you. It’s just you and Jesus, sing praises, dance for Him and worship him with abandon. Abandon fear and doubt or overthinking, whatever it is that holds you back, let it go and worship the King! We’ve really got nothing to lose. Am I right?

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100 (NIV)

As we walk into 2017 together, I pray we can let go of the fears that hold us back and enter fully into the presence of God. Worshipping Him with all we’ve got because He is worthy and He is faithful! Amen?

Have a blessed New Year sweet sisters!

With Love,

Jimmie Lee