God Hears Your Tears

In Psalm chapter six, David wrote with stirring emotion, giving us one of the great passages of Scripture for those who have simply been reduced to tears. He wrote this: “For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer” (Psalm 6:8-9). David not only believed that his tears were seen by God, but cherished by God—received by Him as the special prayer that they are. Friend, whatever may have you down in this season of life, whatever may be weighing on you so heavily, know that God is near when your heart is broken. He sees every tear. He hears every grief-stricken prayer—and the answer to them is never too far off. Now that’s something to pray about!

William Seymour - Azusa Street Revival

As we celebrate Black History Month throughout February, I wanted to draw our attention to William Seymour. Seymour, an African-American pastor best known for his leadership during the Azusa Street revival in the early 1900s, was known as a meek man of prayer. The approximately three-year-long revival he led was remarkable in that, during a time of segregation, people from virtually every nationality, race and culture were attending services. Seeing this first-hand, one man remarked: “the color line has been washed away by the blood (of Jesus).” As we seek revival in our churches and communities today, let’s pray not only for a renewed spiritual fervor, but also a unity like in the days of Azusa under William Seymour. Now that’s something to pray about!

Repentance

Charles Spurgeon, the renowned Prince of Preachers, described repentance as a continual life-long act and wrote that “It is a thing to be done all your life long.” The biblical concept of repentance is often misunderstood though. Repentance is a summons from a gracious king, not a threat from a harsh tyrant. Whatever Jesus may be asking you to turn away from, know that He does so with much kindness, and offers much more in return. My encouragement is to pray this week asking God to help you let go of whatever gets in the way of your relationship with Him. He is calling out with love to you to draw closer than ever before. Now that’s something to pray about!

Sticking With The Vision

Sometimes we think that because a lot of time has passed, and that things have gotten harder, or that our ability to feel connected with God seems more difficult, that somehow we went wrong. The truth is, however, that hardship is simply part of the journey. All the trials we go through are necessary for where God is taking you and me. Let me encourage you to hold fast to the vision God has given you, and not to give up. If no new instructions have come, then nothing has changed. He still wants you to do what He has called you to do. Keep being salt and light, loving your neighbor, serving the church and loving Jesus. By the grace of God, let’s stick with the vision He has given us. Now that’s something to pray about!

Overcoming Temptation

Have you ever wondered how to overcome difficult temptations? The fast-paced, high-tech world we live in today offers all sorts of ways to compromise our faith. I often think of what Jesus said to His disciples: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38). Both Matthew and Mark note this remarkable truth connecting prayer to overcoming temptation. No matter how badly we want to get past our sinful tendencies, Jesus made clear that we are hard-pressed to follow through on it without being prayerful. So, let’s make this important part of our faith a renewed priority, and see the grace to walk in greater victory grow in our life. Now that’s something to pray about!