Pray and serve... together... again...
I had a really good day at work today. It wasn't so much because it was a quiet, uneventful day, though of course that helps, but it was more because I felt focused and clear about my purpose in being there.
In our devotions at work we talked about Colossians 4:2-6, and verse 12. They are verses primarily about prayer being vigilant (NKJV) to pray, with thanksgiving, but also to pray for Paul, who was in chains for the gospel. He asks specifically for them to pray SO THAT there would be an open door for the word, that he might speak it in a way that it is made manifest in the earth. Then verse 12 is about Epaphras, who labored fervorantly (NKJV) or wrestled (NIV) in prayer that the Colossians would stand perfect and complete in the will of God.
First of all, I know that I tend to talk about prayer alot, and that is because it is very important to me, but these verses helped me in my continuous struggle of how to bring prayer and ministry to and with the poor together.
Prayer softens the ground... it opens doors for the gospel to go forward, it once again is a both and! Then it is all about thanksgiving, thanking God for what he is already doing, coming into line with that and making His Word known. And my favourite part of all of this is verse 12. Some truly are called to LABOR INTENSELY or WRESTLE in prayer for others.
Secondly (or are we on thirdly?) Paul was in prison when he wrote this and his admonishion to those in Colosae was to allow Jesus to BE thier life, to put off old things and put on the new, to pray, to speak boldly, and to act with wisdom, and speak with grace. There is not a seperation of some do one and some do the other, we are called to ALL. But at the same time, ones like Epaphras had a great zeal to pray for those he loved and worked alongside, and ministered to. That is who I want to be.
So today, as I was at work, I could rest in the knowlege that YES, feeding the poor and caring for others and attempting to restore dignity IS a large part of my calling in life, AND right alongside it is to pray for doors to be open, for ground to be softened, and to labor intensely and wrestle in prayer for the ones God puts on my heart.
When I came back from Kansas City a couple of weeks ago, I knew that God was stirring much in my heart. I want to see a prayer room developed for the poor, the addicts, the broken in whatever way that looks like in the inner city, like Hope City and yet whatever that would look like here in Winnipeg. Today (amongst other things) has strengthened that resolve.
I'm sure there is much more to say on this in the future. I ask now though, that those of you who are faithful readers of this blog, would pray... that the doors may be open and that I may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, but especially in regards to a "New Hope City" here in Winnipeg.
And so the journey begins
In our devotions at work we talked about Colossians 4:2-6, and verse 12. They are verses primarily about prayer being vigilant (NKJV) to pray, with thanksgiving, but also to pray for Paul, who was in chains for the gospel. He asks specifically for them to pray SO THAT there would be an open door for the word, that he might speak it in a way that it is made manifest in the earth. Then verse 12 is about Epaphras, who labored fervorantly (NKJV) or wrestled (NIV) in prayer that the Colossians would stand perfect and complete in the will of God.
First of all, I know that I tend to talk about prayer alot, and that is because it is very important to me, but these verses helped me in my continuous struggle of how to bring prayer and ministry to and with the poor together.
Prayer softens the ground... it opens doors for the gospel to go forward, it once again is a both and! Then it is all about thanksgiving, thanking God for what he is already doing, coming into line with that and making His Word known. And my favourite part of all of this is verse 12. Some truly are called to LABOR INTENSELY or WRESTLE in prayer for others.
Secondly (or are we on thirdly?) Paul was in prison when he wrote this and his admonishion to those in Colosae was to allow Jesus to BE thier life, to put off old things and put on the new, to pray, to speak boldly, and to act with wisdom, and speak with grace. There is not a seperation of some do one and some do the other, we are called to ALL. But at the same time, ones like Epaphras had a great zeal to pray for those he loved and worked alongside, and ministered to. That is who I want to be.
So today, as I was at work, I could rest in the knowlege that YES, feeding the poor and caring for others and attempting to restore dignity IS a large part of my calling in life, AND right alongside it is to pray for doors to be open, for ground to be softened, and to labor intensely and wrestle in prayer for the ones God puts on my heart.
When I came back from Kansas City a couple of weeks ago, I knew that God was stirring much in my heart. I want to see a prayer room developed for the poor, the addicts, the broken in whatever way that looks like in the inner city, like Hope City and yet whatever that would look like here in Winnipeg. Today (amongst other things) has strengthened that resolve.
I'm sure there is much more to say on this in the future. I ask now though, that those of you who are faithful readers of this blog, would pray... that the doors may be open and that I may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, but especially in regards to a "New Hope City" here in Winnipeg.
And so the journey begins
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