American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 73
ARC Prayer Meeting:
This past Sunday, American Reformation Church explored “Love endures all things.” Love endures all things emphasizes steadfastness and perseverance in difficult situations. In other words, when everything inside of us screams to give up, God’s love inspires us to keep pressing on to that high call and prize.
We discussed Shackleton’s expedition and his ship endurance. It reminded me of Gimli’s challenge in the Lord of the Rings, “Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?” We learned love endures all things was embodied by our Lord Jesus Christ, “For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Following His example, the Apostles encouraged the church to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). It is our faith that works by love that we can endure all things through Christ who strengthens us.
In light of this topic and to connect it to our prayer meeting, I want to briefly look at the need for prayer in our attempts to endure the challenges of life. Isaiah 40:30, 31 states, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
The prophet assures us that even when we are in tip-top condition, we can faint. When our bodies are strong and healthy, our minds clear and bright, and our steps are steady, light, and have purpose, even the fittest amongst us can become weak and weary. Our strength can become abated. Our wits overwhelmed by trials, tribulations, and difficulties that can bring us to the breaking point. I know personally, at least 5 times in this battle that rages from within and from without, I suffered what most would consider a nervous break-down and the deep dark night of the soul.
The Apostle Paul who was no stranger to being pushed beyond the limits of his strength prayed for the Colossian church. He covered a number of prayer targets that he desired for them to receive by the gracious hand of our Lord. He wanted the brethren there to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. He was zealous for them. He desired that they walked worthy of the Lord. He wanted them to fully please the Lord and become fruitful in every good work. He wanted them learning, growing, maturing, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Finally, he was asking the Lord to strengthen them with all might, according to God’s glorious power, with all patience and longsuffering with joy (Colossians 1:9-11). He wanted God’s love, truth, and power to strengthen their inner man to endure and overcome in Jesus’ name!
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