June Prayer Topic: Praying to Not be a Lukewarm Christian

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:9-12 (ESV)

Lukewarm water, to me, is the nastiest stuff.  I love water, don’t get me wrong, but lukewarm water, no thank you.  I have accidently taken a sip of lukewarm water, and I spit it out.  It was not for me.

So why would I want to be lukewarm Christian? This month we want our focus and prayer to be for the Lord to help us not be a lukewarm Christian.  It is only in looking to the Lord that we will be lit on fire for Him.

For too many years, I know that I was a lukewarm Christian.  It is going through life, believing in God, but not really taking my relationship with Him seriously.  I did not let Him be Lord of my life. I was mediocre in my beliefs, and lived life on my terms.  If God fit into my life, then that was good enough.

I mean, I went to church, most weekends.  That was good enough, right? How would you feel if your friends only talked to you one day a week, sometimes?  That is not the type of relationship that God wants from me.  He wants me to let Him into every area of my life, be Lord of my life. 

That is what I want as well.  I don’t want to be something that God wants to spit out of His mouth. I want to be red hot for the Lord.  My first instincts should be to take it to the Lord.  My first instinct should be to talk it out with the Lord. 

I have recently started doing that. It is a journey that God keeps showing me. It is a step by step process, but I am to be on this amazing journey.  So, I am praying that I will not be a lukewarm Christian either. 

“My son, (or daughter), give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26 (ESV)

This month, let us all pray and allowed God to be Lord of us and all that is us.  If our focus is on the Lord, and not on ourselves.  We as humans can be so self-involved.  How does God fit into my life?

Wrong question.  It should be how do I fit into God’s.  This month, let us have that be our focus.  Stop with the ideas that we can do this life on our own.  I know I can’t.  How is that going for you, the doing it on your own?

Be on fire for the Lord, and the world will take notice.  Be the fire that shines to the world.

Dear Lord,

I pray that you light me on fire for you.  Going through this life on my own has not worked, and I don’t want to do it anymore.  Be Lord of my life, and help me to never go back to the lukewarm.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen

Laura Maxson

June Prayer Topic: Proverbs 31:10-31

This month we will be starting a new quarterly segment. Praying about, through, and claiming scripture for ourselves and each other.

Proverbs 31:10-31English Standard Version (ESV)

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 [a] An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself[b] with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[c]
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.

June Prayer Topic: God is my Comfort…

Have you ever been so low that you feel completely and utterly alone?  I have.  I have been to the depths of darkness.

photo Rebecca Herber

When traumatic things happen to us in life, we wonder where God was.  Where is God?  What did I do to deserve this?  Where was God in that event?  If He loves me, why did he let this happen to me?

Does this sound familiar?  It does to me.  I have said it a lot.  I have cried out to God.  I have been angry with God for what happened to me. It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right.  Why didn’t God protect me from that event?  Why didn’t he stop it?

I don’t have the all the answers. Yet, I have learned a few things.  One thing that I have learned is that what happened to me, was NOT God’s plan.  It did not happen to make me stronger, or more empathetic to others.    It was NOT His plan.

A couple of years ago, I was driving to my folks’ house, and I was listening to the song by Casting Crowns “Praise You in this Storm.”  I was still at that angry stage of asking, where was God?  Then, I paid attention to a verse.  “Every tear I’ve cried you hold in your hand.  You never left my side and though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm.”

Tears were rolling down my face.  I went back in my memories to that time.  There I had a “vision” of God beside me holding me with tears rolling down His face.  I “saw” Him holding me so tightly.  He was/is my comfort.

I have learned that:

" When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2

This is God’s promise to each of us.   Even today, when I hear that song, I am reminded that God has never/will never leave my side.

photo Rebecca Herber

Dear Lord,

I pray that you reveal Yourself to others as You did to me.  We all go through traumatic events, and tough times, and we don’t know why.  You are always there.  We may not understand completely why things happen.  I do know that these traumatic events are not part of your plan. It hurts You to see us go through these things.  I have faith that You are there with me.  Others need that same faith.  Lord, you are my comfort, and my shelter in the storm. Amen

Laura Maxson

Vacation Bible School

VBS – Most of us know what these three little letters mean.  As children these three little letters meant a morning of fun with singing, stories, and arts and crafts.  Those three little letters meant time with friends.  We didn’t even need to have it spelled out for us.  We knew what it meant when our parents told us we were going to VBS.

Now as adults, there has been some change in the meaning to those three little letters to us.  There is so much more behind those three little letters.  It means many hours of prep time for the leaders.  Volunteered hours from the dedicated people that are involved.  These people that are using their talents so that the children can be enriched spiritually.

So, let us continue to pray for all those involved in Vacation Bible School!

Contributed by LM