40 Days of Prayer

Surrendering the Future

  
"We want you to know, Christian brothers, of the trouble we had in the countries of Asia. The load was so heavy we did not have the strength to keep going. At times we did not think we could live. We thought we would die. This happened so we would not put our trust in ourselves, but in God Who raises the dead. Yes, God kept us from what looked like sure death and He is keeping us. As we trust Him, He will keep us in the future. You also help us by praying for us. Many people thank God for His favor to us. This is an answer to the prayers of many people." 2 Cor 1:8-11 NLT

"When it comes to real life struggles...I am coming to believe that I need something that is not of my flesh to save me..." Sharon Hersh, The Last Addiction

 In her book The Last Addiction, Sharon Hersh talks about the final addiction in our lives being control. Control over ourselves. Control over those around us. Control over God. As we look back on the many struggles in the last few weeks over our building/meeting place and the future of Grace Redeemer, we easily become frustrated at the inability to control the situation. How many times have we submitted those plans to the city? How many times have we asked the question, "Why Us?" Even in worship we are missing our friends who have moved away, deployed, or are absent. We finally come to the end of ourselves. It is there we find God moving and working - despite us, without us, because of us, within us. See how Paul says it in the passage,  "as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead..."  It is so easy in the midst of turmoil and the urgency of need in our circumstances to react and to respond and to do so in the strength of our own  resources.We lean on our limited, weak human strength instead of the far reaching, unquenchable power of God who raises the dead. It seems so simple and yet our actions can often testify to the fact that we resist this simple truth. 

As we face a very important milestone in Grace Redeemer's journey to be planted, may we all surrender the future and the outcome to the Lord. For He knows what we need before we ask him (Matthew 6:7) Pray that our actions will speak loudly of the name we profess and believe as sovereign Lord. As we trust Him, He will keep us in the future.