Agreement... In Faith & Prayer

We had a guest speaker yesterday morning, who preached an incredible message simply titled, "God's Waiting Room." While there are many character he could have chosen for illustration, he spoke regarding the life of Abraham, waiting on the promise of God for a child. As he closed the message highlighting a few practically applications that we can make in our lives as we wait, it was his last point that particularly struck me and I'd like to highlight for the purpose of today's prayer.

The question posed was essentially this:

What do we miss out in life because we don't lower our pride and allow the faith of others to come alongside and join us in our situation?

What an awesome question! As such, it's modeled in both the old and new testament. Job's breakthrough came when he prayed for his friends. Likewise, in Jesus' ministry, with the four friends who tore into the roof to lower their paralytic friend. Scripture says, "when Christ saw their faith..."

If that wasn't enough, the testimony shared by our guest speaker was just as powerful to hear as from 9-5, at the top of every hour through a M-F work week, he had people from church come pray over his wife. By Friday, whatever it was that had ailed for over 9 months, had left and has never returned.

This is the cause for burnout. Lack of friends to turn to in times of difficulty. Feeling nobody can help in times of adversity. Thinking no one can comfort and walk with you as you face insurmountable challenges.

If only more pastors would recognize how much we are for them and support them.
If only more parishioners would stand and rise to come alongside and stand in agreement with pastors for the places in life they find themselves.

There is power in the agreement of prayer.
There is strength in standing beside a friend and lifting them up spiritually before God; joining their faith and approaching the throne of grace, boldly.
There is great need to do so for pastors, missionaries and church leaders.

Thanks again for joining me as we #pray4pastors.

On this #seniorPastorMonday. pray first and foremost, that a spirit of pride would not stand in the way of pastors reaching out, even if only to one or a few people, to request needing prayer and support for whatever it they face. May feelings of loneliness and all that accompanies it subside, as they recognize people do care for them and that God has forgotten them in their place. Pray for the church, to dismiss their thinking that pastors have their act together. May they recognize the need to join their faith in support as well as join in the mission and calling the pastors  have for the communities they serve. May relationships and tense relations between the pulpit and the pew be mended and healed. Pray a spirit of unity come over the church, anew and afresh; that the impact of the church would increase as God watches people come together and witnesses the faith of those who are friends.

The miraculous.
Where one or two are gathered in My name.
May God be in their midst.
By His Grace and for His glory.

- PNC