I just got the music going for a funeral visitation. The man’s death was unexpected and the family is feeling the rug pulled out from underneath them. As I got back to my office I returned a call to another family whose world was turned upside down by a routine checkup gone awry. Testing positive for Leukemia isn’t something you expect to deal with in the midst of career and empty-nest bliss.
While on the phone this brother said something simple and probably quite common: “I don’t just want to ask for peace, but I don’t feel worthy to ask God for more.”
We had a short, but Spirit-led conversation about it, and then I sent him a text, I thought I would share it with you:
Hey,
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
And sometimes all we can get out is a whimper… and that is okay.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26
Remember,
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” Matthew 6:7-8.
So,
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
Blessings man.
