Change and Prayer
Last week I was talking about our need for material things, this week I have been thinking of less tangible needs and our purpose in being here. Our current situation is part of a process that the church as a whole and we as individuals are going through. We aim to see the bones live, as Bob M’s vision around Ezekiel 37 continues to focus our thinking, but we are not sure how it will happen.
Change, as we have previously discussed, is unsettling and scary but it is essential if we are to continue to exist. Stagnation in any community is the harbinger of death and the church is no different from any other organisation in this. Our task is to work out what is outdated tradition and what is still vibrant and meaningful, and to act accordingly.
Many of us love things from our past to be repeated. To say the same prayers every Sunday or sing the hymns we learnt at Sunday School reminds us of a time when we were secure and life was uncomplicated; they create a feeling of continuity and comfort. For others, however, the past is a cold and fearful place with memories of abuse or neglect; full of worries that can still crowd in on us in the dead of night and prevent our sleeping.
If we lose our connection with the past, good or bad, is it any different from losing our possessions and what effect does it have on the future? I have heard several times recently that we can only live in the present, the past is unchangeable and the future uncertain. All we have is the here and now so we need to make the most of it, to use it productively and not to squander one minute.
We know that, when we accept that Our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins (that is yours and mine, personally), our eternal life has started but we do not know for how long we will be on this earth or what the next stage, the so-called afterlife, is going to be like. All we can do is study what we have been given in the Bible, and ask for direction in prayer, both individually and as a group.
We have had some major discussions on prayer over the last few days. I am pleased to say that we are all in favour of doing it; we just have a problem deciding when and how. Is it a case of “one size fits all” or can we assume that “circumstances alter cases”?
The consensus of opinion has been that the church, as a whole, needs to pray for direction and, most importantly, listen to the answer. If we try to make things happen because we feel they are the right things to do, generally, we do not succeed. Failures tend to bring about disillusionment and unhappiness and the church suffers as a result, especially if we blame everyone else for not sharing our vision. When we listen to what God wants us to do and put our faith in His judgement, act as He dictates and accept that some of our pet projects are not actually helpful, things go well, people are encouraged and growth occurs.
In the Thursday group this week we looked at 2 Chronicles 7:14. In this verse God promises Solomon that if the people bearing His name humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways and pray to Him, He will forgive their sins and restore their lands. Jesus also tells us that prayer is the way to get things done, in John 14, we are told that anyone who believes in Him and asks in His name will be able to do miracles as He did.
The key is to have faith in the Lord, to act now and continue to do so. This is not something that can be put off until tomorrow, we have to be ready to do the Lord’s work whenever the opportunity presents. As our speaker said last Sunday, we should be ready to testify to our faith at any time. We must preach the word in season and out (2 Tim. 4:2) as men will not listen to sound doctrine. We need to pray and act on what we are told, that is the way to achieve renewal.
