Wow!!! It has been awhile since I’ve been on here posting. A lot of things have happened over the past couple of weeks. First, was vacation with a wonderful family in our congregation as well as with my wonderful wife and granddaughter. (Not to mention that we were in a warm place, Florida) While we were there one of my sisters passed away and when we got home another sister passed away. So getting through all of that was difficult as well as catching up with all the work that you have to catch up with when you are away. Which brings me to the title of this blog, “Spinning Mind.”
As I thought about this blog and sending this out my mind started reeling with so many different thoughts. I have been gearing up for the Day of Freedom on the 22nd. Praying for the ones that will be in attendance and working on the talks and different things that will be shared. Praying about the message for this next week and the direction that Lord wants us to go as a congregation. So many different directions, just need His still small voice to calm me down and shut out all the distractions. I have started yet another book, now reading 4 at the same time, maybe that is why my mind is spinning, lol. The new book that I have picked up is actually an old book that was on my shelves. It is entitled, “Power Through Prayer,” by E.M. Bounds. I will admit that I’m not very far in the book, but I wanted to share some thoughts with all of you concerning prayer.
I believe that prayer is a “lost art” in the church today. Bounds makes a couple of statements in the opening chapter that got me to thinking about what we do in the church today.
“We Christians are constantly stretching to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel.” He goes on to share that as the church we have a tendency to lose sight of the individual, or we try to sink the individual into our plan or organization. Is that God’s plan for the church? “People are God’s method. the church is looking for better methods, God is looking for better people.” Look at John 1:6 “There was a man sent from God whose name was John.” Did you see it? A MAN! “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Isaiah 9:6. There it is again, a man.
“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 God is looking for men and women that He can use to channel His power in order to reach the world. I fear that with this age of automation we are apt to forget this vital, urgent truth. To forget it would be destructive to God’s work. We would see an age of darkness, confusion, and death in the church and in our world. I fear that we are at the brink right now.
What we need today as the church is not new organizations or more methods, but people who the Holy Spirit can use. These people must be people of prayer, people who are mighty in prayer. The Spirit of God does not flow through methods, He flows through people. I have heard and was reminded today in this book, “God does not anoint plans, but men and women–men and women of prayer.”
The question I want to leave you with today is, “Have you been in prayer?” I read a quote online this morning about Martin Luther, “The best part of his life was the three hours he spent in prayer.” Can we say that about our lives today?
Join with me in prayer, not for the little things that we always bring before the Lord (although He cares about them) but let’s pick up a real burden for the lost, for God’s power to be restored to the church, and to see the Kingdom of God move forward.
Love all of you and praying for you daily.
