Dear HLPC family,
I was born in 1963 so I have very little recollection of the 60’s outside of typical childhood memories. Those were difficult days as our nation came to grips with civil rights, the Cold War with its threat of nuclear conflict, the assassination of a President, the rise of the drug culture, and the Vietnam War. Today, we are rivaling such a decade of tumult in our own time. In this case, it’s not even a decade but the past year that has us weighed down with worry and sadness.
I sometimes wake up in the wee hours of the morning and find it hard to go back to sleep. My mind goes to the troubles we experience globally, nationally, locally, and then my own personal troubles. I echo the words of the Psalmist in saying, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” (Psalm 55:6). That’s another way of saying, “Stop the world! I want to get off!”
So many of the circumstances we see and face are totally outside of our control. That adds to our discouragement and sense of helplessness. What do we do in times like these?
Verses 16 & 17 of that same Psalm point us in a helpful direction. They read, “As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.” We cry out to God. We pray. We don’t quit as we pray evening, morning, and noon.
Prayer, and prayer alone, may not seem like much to you but please know that it is. You are bringing your requests before Him who made the universe and orders all things to His own glory. In the words of John Newton’s hymn, “Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring.”
We come to the King of kings with our requests and know that we are heard and accepted. The Lord Jesus Christ is our Advocate and through His work, we cry out “Abba, Father!” Prayer is serious work with serious consequences. Come join us for prayer tonight at HLPC at 6:30PM. You won’t be put on the spot to pray out loud. Let’s pray some bold prayers together.
Your Pastor,
Paul