American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 77
ARC Prayer Meeting:
This past Sunday the American Reformation Church covered the topic of love from three different perspectives. First, we highlighted the importance of returning to our first love, especially living in a culture of death, perversion, idolatry, and heresy. Jesus warned where and when sin abounds, the love of many would grow cold. Second, we explored another major stream that flows from the river of God’s love and that was the loving discipline directed to all of God’s children. For whom the Lord loves He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives (Hebrews 12:6). Though unpleasant at the time, it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness. And lastly, we ended with nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We are more than conquerors in all these things, the difficult challenges and issues of life. It is not apart from these things, but in all things.
When considering Paul’s admonishment that nothing can separate us from the love of God, we had to deal with the reality of suffering. It is when we suffer that doubts may arise in our hearts and we can become uncertain of the veracity of God’s love. God’s people throughout redemptive history have struggled with this dilemma. It has been captured in the cry of prayer, “How long O’ God?”
As we seek tie this cry to Sunday’s message to become effectual prayer warriors and skilled intercessors, let’s turn to Psalms 13.
God’s Word states:
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
What are the big take a ways from this passage of Scripture? It’s okay to be raw, and display honest emotions before God. He can handle our pain and questions. They will not knock Him off His Throne of Grace nor cause God to wring His hands in worry. Why is that true? Because suffering doesn't mean God has forgotten us. Remember, Paul’s truth claim was “nothing can separate us from the love of God.”
Our faith may be tried at times, even as by fire, but that does not mean that God’s love has been removed from us. It is during those trying times that test the hearts of men, we are to recall our Ebenezer Stones and God’s past faithfulness even when current circumstances seem dark and hopeless. God stores our tears in His bottle (Psalms 56:8). He has the power to take what the enemy means for harm and turn it to our good. Our laments submitted to our Lord can lead to renewed trust and worship.
Psalm 13 teaches believers how to navigate through sorrow with honesty before God. It teaches us how to shift from despair to trust, and finally to praise. This should happen even before circumstances change. Remember, prayer does not always change the situation, but it can change us to handle stress and pressure in a more mature God honoring, Christian way.
