A Change of Heart

Most of you know that for the past 2 1/2 years, I have worked in the Bush Administration in the Faith-Based and Community Initiative.  On Friday, as I packed up my office, sent my last e-mails, and wrapped up 2 1/2 years of work, I stepped out of my office to a city (and country) that is rejoicing in the inauguration of our new president.  This Administration change has felt personal because not only am I unemployed, but it's hard to hand over the reigns to a whole new group of people after working tirelessly on projects close to your heart.  I'm also extremely competitive and I hate to lose.

I say all this not to politicize the blog, but to confess that since Election Day, I've been plagued with bitterness over this Administration change.  In the midst of what feels like the entire country rejoicing, I'm in a corner sulking because I lost.  

This morning, on the Inauguration of President Obama, I work up and the first thing that came to my heart was Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you."  Immediately I felt drawn to pray for our president in a way that I have never done before.  For the first time, I didn't see things as Republican/Democrat, but the Lord impressed upon me the importance of praying of the strength and prosperity of our leaders.  To pray that they will be filled with the Holy Spirit, surrounded by godly counsel, and that they will be men and women who are drawn to the heart of God.  

This change of heart helped remind me that ultimately, God is sovereign and He is in control.  It's so easy to lose sight of God's ultimate supremacy.  It also helped free me from some of the bitterness I've been harboring.  While it's only been four hours, I'm already finding joy in the ability to pray on behalf of our leaders and our nation.  We are in a place where we so desperately need to wrestle in prayer each day before the Lord on behalf of our country, our world, and our leaders.

This morning, I wrote this prayer in my prayer journal:

God, I pray that today you will bless and equip President Obama with the tools he needs to succeed.  Lord, surround him with godly counsel.  Fill him with your Holy Spirit, speak to his heart, and draw him into your presence.  Lord, give him strength, wisdom, and discernment as he leads our nation.

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you."

Ephesians 1:17-18 (NIV)

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

Psalm 33:20-22 (NIV)

A Love of Wrestling

The past week I have been focusing on Colossians. After reading through a couple times, one person grabbed my attention. Paul, the author of this and many other books in the Bible, is definitely an important figure, but he mentions a man named Epaphras twice (and in Philemon as his fellow prisoner). In 1:7 Paul says that from him, the Colossians learned of God's grace and truth. And in 4:12-13, Paul writes to the Colossians that Epaphras,"...a servant in Christ, sends his greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you..."

I see Epaphras as an example to follow for many reasons. One, he shared the gospel. He taught the Colossians about having faith in Christ Jesus, and their faith in the gospel produced fruit. Epaphras sowed seeds of truth. But he didn't just plant the seeds and abandon them. Paul testified to the hard work that Epaphras had put into nurturing those seeds in prayer. Epaphras had been praying that those new believers would mature and please God in bearing fruit.

It is a beautiful and joyous experience to pray with someone in accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. There is rejoicing in heaven when just one sinner repents (Luke 15:7)! But, as Paul described, the hard work came in the process of maturing and following God's will. Epaphras showed a persevering and sacrificial love in how he prayed for those believers. He wrestled in prayer. The Message version says, " What a trooper he has been! He's been tireless in his prayers for you." The King James Version says he has been laboring fervently and has great zeal. Any way it is translated, he was a faithful, passionate servant of the Lord. 

I am blessed to have fervent lovers of Christ who pray for me as well. I call my aunts my personal prayer warriors because of the automatic phone/email tree that starts when I share a request/concern with my mom. I know that they will be battling in prayer for me. And that gives me hope and strength. I am grateful for them and I pray that others would see me as one who is committed to them in prayer. But it is humbling to question my own daily practice of this. Do I wrestle in prayer? Who do I wrestle in prayer for regularly? Do I share the gospel regularly? Do I see the fruit of the gospel in my life and in those I support in prayer? I love Christ by loving his children. If I truly love someone like Christ, I am called to wrestle for them.

Who do I feel called to battle for? This week I wrote out over 100 names of family, friends and acquaintances from church, work, sports, school, etc. and prayed specific prayers for each one. I don't necessarily have time to do that all the time, but it really put the work of prayer into perspective. I am connected to and have the ability to love so many people, if I would just be more deliberate about intercession. 

Father thank you for the hope that is stored up for us in heaven. We pray that faith and love would spring up from that hope. We pray for boldness and passion in sharing your truth. We pray that our lives would be pleasing to you, bearing much fruit in the gospel. May we persevere in loving and serving each other as faithful servants. We want to battle for our fellow brothers and sisters in prayer- in fervent, zealous prayer. May your Holy Spirit work through us as we intercede for others. Give us a wrestling spirit; may we be feisty prayer warriors.

Overflowing with Hope

“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:12-13 (NIV)

During the Advent and Christmas season, this year more than ever I have been struck by the incredible hope that Jesus’ birth brings us. I can’t even begin to imagine the sheer joy that people like Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Zechariah felt as they witnessed the Old Testament prophecies unfold and experienced the immense hope that comes through birth of Jesus.

I love the verse above because it references a prophecy in Isaiah 11 that says, “In that day, the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him; and his place of rest will be glorious.”

Christ is here! He is glorious and He offers us tremendous hope!

I’ve mentioned before that I’m in the process of waiting through some pretty big life decisions and while I wait, I am both comforted and strengthened by the hope that Christ brings to us.
For 2009, I’ve committed to memorizing two scripture verses a month and my first verse is Romans 15:13. Through this waiting process, my prayer is that as I trust in the Lord, I will be filled with the peace and joy that can only come through the Holy Sprit and that my life will be overflowing with the hope that we have in Christ.

Jesus, thank you for the incredible hope that you give to us. Even in uncertain times, it is a delight to be able to rest confidently in You. I pray that my heart will trust firmly in you and that you will fill me with the you and peace that can only be found in You.