Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at al times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. {2 Thessalonians 3:16}

For many of us life is so busy. Just getting through the day managing the chaos of the world that you come in contact daily. Life is just busy. In Gal 5:22 it lets us know that Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. We cannot produce it.

In this morning’s meditation I began to read Isaiah 48:18 and Its lets me know that the peace of God is compared to a river. A river is a moving stream of water. There’s a song that comes to mind “I Got Peace Like A River.” The song writer goes on to say that “Peace like a river in my heart.” A river has twist and turns and rolls over and through rocks as it flows.To have peace like a river is to have security while meeting many bumps and unexpected turns in life.

Avoiding prayer, yes prayer, there will be anxiety, frustrations, chaos while avoiding peace. Peace comes from an active , ongoing, and obedient relationship with the “Prince of Peace.” That water that flows in and through is the Holy Spirit and the sturdy streams of HIs Word until we have peace like a river.

Very early in the morning, whole it was dark, Jesus got up ,left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed…Going a little further, he fell with His face to the ground and prayed. Jesus got prostrate before His Father and prayed. He prayed with real substance with thoughts flowing from His heart. It was a personal and intimate prayer.

When was the last time that you actually prayed. I know we study the Bible, go to church, talk to the pastor or receive counsel seems more strenuous than just simply talking to God. Often we do everything else but pray. Pray matters. Peace matters. By praying you stay in good communications with God, we receive continual strength to walk though these danger zones of life.

Sometimes when we stop looking for all the answers to the “whys” in our lives and decide to trust God, unexpected peace washes over us. You may never feel like giving  your circumstances, hurt, or loss to Jesus ; but  you can choose to submit to his authority out of belief and  obedience rather than emotions. Obedience is better than sacrifice. If you grant God complete access to your heart, mind and soul, you will be free to rest in Him.

Why? Because is God is incapable of making mistakes. When He said that we can have peace like a river, He meant that in Isaiah 48:18. Col.3:15 leaves one last thought this morning that “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

Times and seasons are the creation of God, and they do not change on their own. Principalities and dominion rule times and seasons. The sun, moon, and stars are principalities and powers created by God to judge over time and seasons. The Scriptures reveal that God created the sun to rule over the day and the moon over the night. These are principalities and dominions created to rule and govern.
It is essential then that as the times and seasons change, we prepare ourselves for the new opportunities and threats that the new season unleashes. We know that all things are moving towards a state of chaos and anarchy; if you do not prepare yourself for the coming season, you may struggle through time. Transition can be a difficult time. We are uncomfortable with the status quo, and yet the new opportunity that God for us has not yet manifested.
New seasons in our life, and God doesn’t shelter us from change. He uses it to prepare us for recent seasons of opportunity and service. New seasons and experiences stretch us beyond our current comfort zones. Sometimes–maybe, far too often– we rush right through the signs of the seasons and miss out on the things that God is trying to point out to us. It is sad because we have so much undeveloped potential in all of our lives. Productive seasons don’t just happen automatically. We must prepare for a new season.
There are new seasons that have been made available to me. I said that I didn’t want to attend seminary, but God whom I have given my life changed that. There was a door of opportunity to participate in a seminary, and financial aid was made available. Yes, It is an answer to my paper on bettering myself in the ministry. Being a Pastor for twenty-plus years and at middle age, here comes the opportunity.
The Lord has opened the windows of heaven for me. I have now started a YouTube Sunday School lesson channel, and I was like Moses using the excuse of having a lurch speech. I have written over seven books, and the sky is the limit. I am in awe of what God is doing in my life.
My question to who read this publication. Do we give up on the vision that God gives us for a better job or an improvement in our life or church because we see problems and barriers in the way? Maybe we say, “I can’t go to college. I can’t make it. I don’t have any money to get a better car. I can’t teach a Sunday school class. Can’t go to seminary. Can’t change jobs. Can’t live in a better house.” We give up on any number of things. These were my questions before I reaffirmed my life in God. I learned that even the messenger needs a Word.

“In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He heard because of His piety.” There is an urgent need and an earnest appeal for help. The prayers of our Lord were pertinent, and they were pressing. He was here for a short time, and there was work to be done.

As a church pastor and leader, I need to be more decisive and confident and willing to have a prayer life. My prayer needs to be what it was to Jesus, needs to imply forethought and daily searching of the scriptures in preparation.

How much more powerful and spiritually successful could our ministries be if we stopped being so busy and followed the excellent example of Jesus. Worship does more than offer worship to a worthy God; it also trains believers to respond to God. Spending time with the church past by reading their writings, hymns, and prayers. Doing this, they are exposed to the piety of Christians outside of their current culture of diverse backgrounds.

 A pastor leader within the local church can seek to encourage  Christian piety through the minister teaching ministry. Your life as a pastor is on display that will reveal how the Christian life is to work. I have learned through reading this lesson that a minister cannot hide their view of  Christian piety.

My three key learnings from my Spiritual Sustenance over time are concerning how I envision my practices of ministers have many variables. I have daily prayers, read my Bible, and meditate on the Word. There are many distractions daily like work and tasks at home that you have to govern yourself to do your best. I had to practice many ways and things to stay spiritually focused.

Nearly as often as I heard it when I was coming through my developmental years, we always heard that you have some learning with your burning. It is the challenge of learning new things and discovering new perspectives about yourself as a minister.  I always say as a preacher, and I am a soldier in the army of the Lord, I have to keep my mind sharp to the things of God.  I equated sitting before God in private meditation and just is listening to hear from God. Take time out of my schedule to sit simply before God at the altar at home or the sanctuary.

 I have practiced ensuring my longevity in ministry. Secondly is with regimen the fasting and prayer. I  fast weekly, which is a habit that has become a tradition of mine to focus on my ministry.   I’m trying to discern God’s call and what God would have me do for the coming days.

 Thirdly,  laughter is a significant part of my ministry. Before the pandemic, I enjoyed taking selfies with everyone that I met. The Bible says in Proverbs 17:22a says  ” A merry  heart is a good medicine.”  I have maintained the practice of studying the Word of God not just for sermons but to be aware and know God intimately. God’s word unwrapping wisdom would enlarge my mind that has been helpful and studying for sermons and preaching sermons of different types.  I have preached sermons as one of the biblical characters where I appeared dressed in costume as a guest to the worship. I try to be very creative by using different styles of preaching to keep my preaching sharp that has been helpful, I have found that I could be having the worst week in the world even after studying, fasting, and praying, but when I get in the congregation, even on the Zoom platform.  I think that it’s a privilege to engage in active worship as a participant instead of a spectator. Worship takes me from one degree of grace to another and enlarges my view of worship and love of God.

Clergy Keep Calm and Stay Healthy

We all need to hear words of support and encouragement from time to time. Whether

there is a global pandemic, tragedy, or illness plaguing your friend, remind them that

you are always there for them. Words have a lot of power, and you can choose yours

wisely. 

Well, to be honest, that is a difficult question to answer. There are no perfect solutions

or preventions to stress or burnout or the other causes that lead people to leave the

ministry. There are just too many things to factor.

How does a pastor keep spiritually and emotionally healthy while living, worshiping, and

leading in an unhealthy environment? Exercise vigorously 3-4 times a week. Walk,

swim, play tennis. . Drink water, at least two to four cups (16-32 ounces) upon rising,

and similar amounts if you are going out for activities and exercise. Allow adequate

time for sleep. Adrenal arousal reduces our need for sleep – but this is a trap – we

ultimately pay the penalty. Most adults probably need 8-9 hours a night.

I have pastored in two church turnaround situations – two of which worked, one that did

not. Turning an unhealthy church around is one of the hardest tasks any pastor will ever

be called to do.

Do not stay in fix-it mode, responding to every need, crisis and emergency that arises.

Yes, those must be responded to, especially in a turnaround situation. But if that is all

you are doing – or even the main thing you are doing – the church and you will suffer for

it.

When we stay in reactive mode, the squeaky wheels are in control. Not us. Not Jesus. A

pastor who wants to stay healthy while bringing a church into health needs a plan.

Something designed to replace the current toxic environment.

It is not enough to drain the well. We need to replace it with something of value. For the

pastors’ mental and emotional health because there are fewer things that will draw us

into an unhealthy church’s drama than constantly living in reaction to that drama.

Too many pastors are trying to do it alone. That is hard to do in a healthy church. In an

unhealthy one, it can kill you. Find a mentor or coach. Either someone who does that

as their ministerial calling, or a pastoral friend who will step up for you.

If you live in a rural area with few options, pick up the phone and call some of your old

seminary professors, your denominational officials, or a former pastor of yours, not of

the church you are serving. It may take a few calls to find the right fit, but do not give up

until you find someone. “Do not take life too seriously, you will never get out of it alive!

What matters is that you have a mature minister who can listen to you, pray with you,

and offer Godly wisdom – not just about the church, but about your own emotional and

spiritual health.

The Bible is more than a collection of sermon texts. Prayer is more than petitions we

make on behalf of others. The spiritual disciplines must be lived and strengthened within

our own lives before we can teach them to others.

Do not neglect your own spiritual nourishment. Everyone has a unique set of

temptations and triggers. Do not ignore them or beat yourself up for them. Acknowledge

them and protect yourself against them. Take a personal audit. Reassess your goals;

like your clothes, change them sometimes. Improve your self-attitudes. Learn a healthy

assertiveness. Know your gifts, and your limits. Face your fears; do not avoid them by

pretense or bury them in an addiction. Be a growing person: if God has yet more light

and truth to break forth from his Word, what new understandings have you experienced

recently? Exercise is also important to any program for health. We need to exercise

spiritually as well as physically. Spiritual exercise includes regular church attendance,

prayer time, fellowship with other believers and quality time in the Word of God

It is a workday. So, take Sabbath on another day. Mine is Monday. Every pastor needs

a regular down time. Jesus said, ‘Come apart and rest awhile. And get plenty of sleep

and exercise, too. Discouragements and temptations thrive in the petri dish of

exhaustion and physical ill-health. Jesus said, ‘Come apart and rest awhile’. If you do

not rest awhile, you will soon come apart.

It is Jesus’ role to save people and build his church. The pastor’s calling is to equip the

saints to do the work of ministry. Never confuse the two.

Trust In God

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. [NIV}

Introduction

         The fact that Jesus admonishes us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” indicates that certain things we go through will indeed cause us trouble (worry, fear, doubt). Challenges we face can prompt this type of response within our hearts – our soul (mind, imagination, intellect, will, and emotions).

         Death is one of those challenges. Death attacks our hearts when we come to the Funeral Home chapel or the local Church to say farewell to a loved one. Dear causes us to worry about whether our loved ones will see Jesus; Death forces us to fear whether we will have adequate resources to cover our expenses; Death causes us to doubt whether we can make it through this challenge.

         Jesus knows that death will attack us, especially in times like these. And Jesus does not shy away from the reality of death’s grip on our souls. Indeed, Jesus knows, and Jesus understands that death has invaded our mind, imagination, intellect, will, and emotions. Indeed, Jesus knows that every facet of our beings has been impacted by death. Yet, despite this knowledge, Jesus says, “You can control to what degree you will allow death to be successful in its attack.” Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

         Jesus is speaking to his disciples about his impending death. Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for his departure from their lives; he lets them know that they will no longer have his physical presence.

         Jesus knows that when he is killed, hung on the cross by the Roman Empire like a common thief, and death will challenge his disciples to become enthralled with grief, despair, and hopelessness. Jesus says, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” This word, “let,” means “to allow; to give in to; to surrender.” In other words, Jesus places the response to his death totally in the hands of his disciples.   

         Jesus says to them they can respond with faith rather than be overwhelmed by this calamity. Jesus says you do not have to give in to trouble, not even trouble of the spirit and soul. Jesus says you have the power to respond with the knowledge that God is still in control.

         Jesus says to them, “Trust in God.” Trust means “to confide in; rely upon; surrender to.” Jesus says to them surrender this situation to God. Let Go and Let God. There is a secret in offering your troubles, your challenges to God. Jesus says confide in God – place all your worries, doubts, and fears at the feet of God. Psalms 34:19 declares, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.” Jesus says, tell yourself this too shall pass; God will deliver me, so I will trust him and praise his Holy Name.

· When you’re down, trust God.

· When you’re afraid, trust God.

· When doubt fills your heart, trust God.

· When you don’t think you’re going to make it through, trust God.

· Trust God – confide in, rely on, and surrender this situation to God. Hallelujah!

         Not only that, but Jesus says, “Trust also in me.” Jesus tells them to “rely upon” what he has told them. Jesus, you see, has proven that he is trustworthy. Every word that Jesus spoke, the Lord God has upheld. Jesus has proven that he can do exceedingly abundantly above everything they could ever ask or think. Jesus has proven that he can raise the dead; He rose the widow of Nain’s son; He rose Lazarus, His friend from the grave after he’d been dead four days; He raised Jairus’s daughter; so Jesus had power over death.  

         Jesus said, “also trust in me.” Just as God can be trusted, certainly his only begotten son can be trusted. Lord, have mercy! Jesus said, “Confide in me.” The hymn writer wrote, “I must tell Jesus all of my troubles; I can not bear these burdens alone. I must tell Jesus; I must tell Jesus, Jesus can help me Jesus alone.” Jesus is our helper in times of trouble; he is the bishop and shepherd of our souls. Jesus can and will help; he’ll help each of you right now regardless of the situation you may be facing. Can I get a witness?

         Beloved, even now as tears run down your cheeks, you can trust God, and you can trust the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus has overcome death, hell, and the grave! Facing his fears, and stood his test. He suffered, bled, and died on Calvary’s Cross. He hung his head in the locks of his shoulders and died. He hung there from the sixth to the ninth hour; He hung there until the Sun refused to shine and the moon dripped in blood; He hung there until the dead got up and walked the earth, and the centurion looked at him and said, “Truly, this must be the Son of God.”

         Jesus rose with all power in his hands, and one of these days – it won’t be very long. You will hear the trumpet sound; you will see the dead in Christ rise first; you will see those of us who remain to rise with them to meet the Lord in the earth.” Lord, have mercy!

         Not only that, but someone will begin to shout, O death, where is thy sting; O grave where is thy victory.” Because Jesus Christ can be trusted; Because God can be trusted. My friends, you don’t have to worry; you don’t have to fret; you don’t have to doubt God and his Word. I urge you this morning to let go and let God – he will, I said, he will give you joy in your sorrow. He will provide you with beauty for ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  

         He will restore your joy to such a degree that men will call you “oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” In other words, the world will talk about how good your God has been. When they see you rebound after this tragedy with your joy, peace, and swagger, then men and women will declare just how good God is. Can I get a witness?  

         “Do not let your heart be troubled” because you serve a God who sits high and looks low. You serve a God who promised never to leave you, never to leave you alone. Hallelujah! You serve a God who will lead you through this valley of the shadow of death. You do a God who will ensure goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life. Lord, have understanding!

         You serve a God who is right there by your side, and so this morning, let go and let God. The0 pm fact of the matter is you can depend on God- trust Him. Hallelujah!

Daniel 3:1-30
Firey Faith
Intro: Fire safety technique taught to children, emergency services personnel, and industrial workers as a component of health and safety training.
Primarily, it is a method to extinguish a fire on a person’s clothes or hair without, or in addition to, the use of conventional firefighting equipment.
In addition to extinguishing the fire, stop, drop, and roll is an effective psychological tool, providing those in a fire situation, particularly children, with a routine that can be focused on to avoid panic.

· Stand Still- The fire victim must stop still. Ceasing any movement which may fan the flames or hamper those attempting to put the fire out.
· Knell Down – The fire victim must drop to the ground, lying down if possible, covering their face with their hands to avoid facial injury.
· Hold On – The fire victim must roll on the ground to extinguish the fire by depriving it oxygen. If the victim is on a rug or nearby, they can roll the rug around themselves to further extinguish the flame.
Most folk would agree that this is a technique everyone should know if you ever find yourself in a blazing situation. I want you to know that this technique will also work when we find ourselves engulfed by the fires of life. Stop, Drop, And Roll. I want to show you the steps Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego took to conquer their fire. The same steps will work for us.
I. V. 1-12 tells us how to STAND Nowhere does the Bible guarantee the saint of God freed from the fires and storms of life. On the contrary, the Bible is filled with references to the fact that storms will come and that they will be part and parcel of the life of every believer.
· “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV)
· “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1 KJV)
· “For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 2:23 KJV)
Fire Touches The Serving Ones – Some people feel that being a servant of God should guarantee them freedom from troubles. Once, I heard a woman say the following words when she was enduring a time of immense stress and difficulty, “Why is this happening to me? I have tried to do everything the Lord wants me to do!” What she failed to understand is that the Lord does not promise us freedom from trouble. It can and will touch all of us!
Just ask the Apostle Paul. He labored for the Lord while fighting a thorn in the flesh. A thorn, by the way, that God refused to remove, Serving God does not eliminate the possibility of suffering and sacrifice. It practically guarantees it.
Not only does the fire touch the saved ones, but the servings it also Touches The Separated Ones – Some feel that a clean life is a hedge against trouble. If I can be good enough, then nothing terrible will happen! If something terrible does happen, then it must be that there is a sin in my life.
Consider Job. He suffered like few other men ever have, yet God’s testimony about his life was that he was a man of God, Job 1:1, 5, 8. Clean energy does not mean a protected life. Sometimes, God will take the holiest, the purest, and the best He has and put them in the fire. Not so that He can watch them squirm, suffer and burn, but so that He can use them for His glory to prove that He is still God!
The more we know about the fire, the better off we are! When we realize that God doesn’t send us there to destroy us but to develop us, it can change our entire outlook where the fire is concerned. When you also stop to consider the fact that God will sometimes take the very cream of the crop, the best of the best, and send them into the fire, it can change our whole perspective concerning the fire.
These men committed the fire to the Lord. When they faced the fire, they knew they were insufficient within their own power. They committed the fire to the power of the Lord and trusted Him to take them through. When we face our own fires, we, too, should commit them to the Lord. There is some very basic help to be found in how these men committed themselves to the fire and to the Lord. What they did helped them to commit the fire to the Lord and to trust Him to do right by them. Let’s learn from their example.
Remember Your Connection To God – Take special notice of the words “our God.” Notice how Nebuchadnezzar spoke of God in verse 15. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that they were in a special relationship with the sovereign God of the universe. These men were the sons of God by faith, and that is a good relationship to be in when the fire comes near your life.
The same is true for us. We need to remember that we are not spiritual bums wandering through this world. We are the children of God, 1 John 3:1-3! Our God is the Creator! God is our Father, and it is his “good pleasure” to give us the kingdom. Luke 12:32. Our Father is all-powerful. Our Father owns it all and is perfectly capable of aiding us in our time of crisis!
Remember The Control Of God – Two words used by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego make all the difference. Those words are “is able.” These are the words of faith!
These men were not stupid! They knew the fire was hot. They knew the fire was able to destroy them. They knew that there was no escape, at least from a human standpoint. As they faced the fire, they knew what it could do to them. Yet, as they faced the fire, they were also able to “faith” the fire! They knew that even if they were thrown into the fire, their Heavenly Father had the necessary power to bring them through.
God hasn’t changed! He is still “able” to do anything that needs to be done in your life or mine! He is still God, and He is still able Eph. 3:20! Even if you go into the fire, God is still in control. He has His hand on the thermostat, His eye on the thermometer, and He is in control of the situation. In fact, when the fire does come into your life, it had to pass through the filter of God’s perfect plan for you before it ever came your way. Remember, when the fire is raging in your life, Romans 8:28 still says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Remember Your Commitment To God – Back in Daniel 1:8-21, when these men were younger and new to Babylon, they took a stand for God and committed themselves to live for Him and for Him alone. This is a commitment that they took seriously. Here they are faced with their own deaths, and still, they are determined to serve the Lord. They stood in the day of testing!
When the fire comes to your life and mine, it will often be accompanied by the temptation to quit on God, to give up. However, God has promised us help for our times of testing and trials. When you are tempted to quit, remember three truths, if you will.
· God will not abandon you in your trial –
· Jesus Christ walked a much harder path than the one you face. He didn’t quit, and He is able to help you make it through as well.
· “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
The fires of life prove the reality of our testimony. It is easy to make vows to God when you get saved, and it looks like everything will be smooth sailing. When the tough times come, and they will, that is when you get to honor the commitments you have made to the Lord. By the way, He expects you to keep your promises to Him!
When life heats up, we must remember that we are His and that He has committed Himself to our care. So, when the fire comes, and it will stop and consider it in light of Who God is. Drop before the Lord and commit the fire to the Lord. Trust Him to give you what you need in the hour of your need.
KNEEL DOWN
These men stopped and considered the fire. They dropped the fire into the hand of God and committed to Him. Then they literally rolled right into the fire. When they did, they encountered just what they needed, not to extinguish the flames but to get them through the fire.
Conquer It Through God’s Presence – Remember that when you face the fires of life, you will never face them alone! The Lord showed upright in the middle of their fire. He did the same thing for the disciples when they were in the storm, Matt. 14. He showed up in Daniel’s lion den, Dan. 6. He will be there with you too!
Here is His promise:
· “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10 KJV)
· “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:2 KJV)
Not only through God’s presence but Conquer It Through God’s Preservation – Remember that God did not save you to lose you to a fiery trial. He will meet you in the blaze, and He will strengthen you on the day of trial. He saved you from taking you through the fires and on home to glory.
· “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” (2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV)
Not only does God conquer through presence. Preservation, Conquer It Through God’s Power – Again, we are reminded that the God we serve is all-powerful and is able to take care of His children. It doesn’t matter what you may be facing today, and God is bigger than it is!
God is able to take care of you and me.
By the way, God is still doing the very same thing! By letting Us go through the fire while sustaining us and even bring us out in such a way that God gets all the glory and honor. God may be using the fire in our life to spread the gospel message. Our life could be as a canvas upon which God is painting what true Christianity is all about. We never know who is watching, and we never know why the Lord sends. May the Lord help us to handle the fires of life in a way that God gets all the honors!
Not only does God conquer through presence. preservation, Through
Power – but lastly, God’s Conquer Through Promotion – One of God’s primary reasons in sending us through the fire is to purify us, to develop us, and to promote us. The truth of the matter is that you probably won’t be much use to the Lord until you go through some fires in your life. The fire has the remarkable ability to burn off impurities and to cleanse the object committed to its power. When God meets you, He is about to mold you into a vessel He can use for His glory!
· Remember Simon Peter? He wasn’t much use until the Lord melted him and burned off some pride and some of his strong-willed nature. God melted him and molded him, and fashioned him into a vessel of great honor and power.
· Remember Jacob? His name means “heel-catcher, trickster,” and he lived up to it every day! However, one night, he met God by a river, and the Lord melted Jacob that night. God renamed him “Israel,” which means “a prince with God.” After he faced that fire, he was helpful to the Lord!
· Remember Joseph? Even someone as pure as Joseph was melted in the fire before he was promoted to the glory of God.

· “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalms 55:22 KJV)
· “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV)

A PRAYING LIFE STILL MATTERS

Prayer is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship:

Is your prayer life a struggle? Does praying seem like an exercise in eloquent speech that you just don’t possess? Find biblical answers to many of your questions about prayer.

Do you ever feel like you have to pray just right, or it won’t work? Have you felt like your prayer wasn’t answered because you didn’t have enough faith or pray long enough? I’ve felt that way too. Maybe that’s because we make prayer too hard. So often, we make it all about us finding the perfect words and approach. We think we have to pray just right for God to hear and respond.

Yet Jesus reassured his disciples with these words: “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8). 

Prayer is not a mysterious practice reserved only for clergy and the religiously devout. Prayer is simply communicating with God— listening and talking to him. Believers can pray from the heart, freely, spontaneously, and in their own words. If prayer is a difficult area for you, learn these basics principles of prayer and apply them in your life.

The Bible has a lot to say about prayer. The first mention of prayer is in Genesis 4:26: “And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.”

(NKJV)

I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ ” (Zechariah 13:9, NLT)

But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! (John 15:7, NLT)

The Lord instructed us to pray. One of the simplest reasons to spend time in prayer is because the Lord taught us to pray. Obedience to God is a natural by-product of discipleship.

“Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!” (Matthew 26:41,

NLT)

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1, NIV)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

(Ephesians 6:18, NIV)

(YOU CAN’T STAY INSIDE HIDING FROM THE PRESSURES OF

LIFE)

Prayer Isn’t a Formula You Have to Get Right

God’s hearing our prayers doesn’t depend on our praying long enough or hitting the right phrases. Prayer is an invitation to come before our Heavenly Father,[SD1]  who knows our needs and longs to hear our voices. God hears and responds to us because He is faithful and has compassion for His children. 

My prayer life grows deeper when I take a few focused minutes to pray each morning like Jesus did (Mark 1:35). This gets me in the right frame of mind to keep praying later in the day. I’m learning that prayer can be simple and natural as breathing.

Prayer isn’t a ritual that depends on closing our eyes and putting on holy faces. We don’t have to kneel or sit. We can pray while walking, driving, or working. God responds to a two–[SD2] word cry for help in the middle of a busy afternoon, just like He does to a focused prayer time after reading Scripture in the morning. Praying doesn’t have to be complicated. God delights in any simple words we offer Him.

As believers in Christ, we have with a fantastic privilege; our Heavenly Father invites us to talk to Him! In Jeremiah 29:12, He asks is children to speak and promises to listen: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” We can read God’s Word and talk to Him in the morning to align our hearts with His at the start of the day, and we can also speak to Him as we go about our daily routines.

We may think we have to pray with fancy words, but prayer is just talking to God. Throughout the day, God longs to hear our simple prayers:

• Thank you for this breakfast, Lord.
• Help me stay calm in this traffic jam.
• Lord, help me love this person right now.
• God, will you show me what to do?
• Lord, I love you. Be with me.
• Goodnight, Lord.

Earlier this year, I read a devotional series based on the Lord’s Prayer, and I realized I’d let praise slip away from my prayer life. Yet when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He taught them to start with praise:

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy” (Matthew 6:9).

 [SD3] I tried an experiment; I began my morning prayer time praising God for His power, greatness, majesty, and love. I saw several positive results. The first one was that I knew my praise honored God and put me in the[SD4]  right relationship to Him. The second was that praise built my faith. When I remembered God’s outstanding attributes and power over all creation, my confidence in Him grew.

We think of prayer as talking, but any relationship involves listening and  [SD5] talking; we can even be quiet in the presence of someone we love. Psalm 46:10 tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God,” and sometimes our souls just need to get still in God’s presence to remember His glory, power, and love. When we quiet our hearts before Him, we put ourselves in a posture to receive what we need from Him.

When we sit quietly in God’s presence, we’re better able to listen. What if we echo the words of 1 Samuel 3:9, “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening?” Of course, listening to God is subjective, and we can never be 100 percent sure it’s His voice we’re hearing, but when I ask God to speak to me, I’m often surprised by that still, small voice I recognize:[SD6]  a thought that comes to mind, a Scripture I read, or a word of wisdom a friend gives me.

The word “repentance” was[SD7]  used to make me cringe because honestly, I didn’t want to remember my sin. But I’m learning that calling my sin to mind, confessing it to God, and asking Him to change me, ushers, [SD8] in spiritual renewal. Acts 3:19 holds a promise for us: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” When we acknowledge our sins, God moves in to restore and renew us.

Lately, [SD9] in my morning quiet time, I pray along with the words of Psalm 139:23, 24.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (NASB).

I often jot down a simple list of sins that come to mind and ask God to change my heart. 

• When I confess,[SD10]  worry, God’s Spirit brings peace.
• Where I repent from irritability, God renews my patience.
• When I confess anxiety due to an overwhelmed schedule, God points out my next steps.
• Although prayer is so much more than asking God to help and provide for us, our Heavenly Father does indeed care deeply about our needs and longs to supply them. Philippians 4:6 entreats us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (NLT).
• When we come to God in faith, asking Him to supply our physical and spiritual needs, we can trust He hears us and will provide. Try a 30–[SD11] day experiment; keep a list of needs you pray for and look back over it from time to time. Add notes in the margins as you see God’s answers. Your faith will grow as you remember His faithful provision.

As Christians, we have the extraordinary  privilege of participating in God’s work by praying for other people. Although we often neglect it, our most potent and effective ministry as Christians is prayer. We can impact our children, friends, family, and loved ones as we pray for them.

I have a tendency to worry about the people I love, and when I don’t worry, I try to control situations and make them better through my efforts. Yet all my worry won’t change a thing, and my tired efforts will always fall short. When I turn those worries into prayers, I’m calling on an all-powerful, always-loving God to intervene and to work His will in situations and people I’m powerless to change.

As we pray, let’s not forget to thank God for what He’s already done in our lives. When was the last time you thanked God for sending Jesus to die for you? Have you thanked Him recently for the gift of His Holy Spirit? When we thank God for the many spiritual blessings we receive, it honors Him and opens our eyes to the abundant life He’s giving us.

Thank him for everyday blessings like your dog’s faithful friendship or your child’s smile. Thank him for answering your prayers. What if we make it a point to thank God for what He’s already done before we ask Him for something new? If you’re having trouble seeing things to give thanks for today, ask God to open your eyes to abundance and gratitude.

Do you ever feel confused about what to do next? Ever find yourself in a situation that looks impossible? Prayer provides an opportunity to ask God to guide us.

Whether you face an important life decision, need God’s wisdom for a challenging situation at work, or just need to know how to respond in a difficult conversation, God’s Holy Spirit will show you your next step when you ask Him for guidance.

We can pray along with these reassuring words:

“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust… Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my

Savior, And my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:1,4-5)

When I feel exhausted  it’s usually because I’m running on my strength, but I’m learning to stop and ask God for help. My own reserves of power will only get me so far, and exhaustion serves as a warning signal that I’m running on empty. God promises to empower us by the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. 

Maybe God has called you to do something that looks way too big. Perhaps you’re facing a challenging situation that leaves you feeling weak. Perhaps you’ve been walking through a time of trial,[SD12]  and you’re wondering how you can take one more step. Ask the Lord to fill you with His power despite your weakness. Ask Him to give you the strength you need to take one more action, Call on Him to provide  you[SD13]  with the ability to live for Him today.

Finally, and most of all, prayer is an opportunity to turn our hearts toward God. We have the incredible privilege of coming before the Lord of the universe. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). When we call on God and turn our hearts to Him, He sees and hears us; He is with us.

What If I Don’t Know How to Pray?

The Holy Spirit will help you in prayer when you don’t know how to pray:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with

God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27, NIV)

A Humble Heart

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles

7:14, NIV) 

Wholeheartedness

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

(Jeremiah 29:13, NIV)

Faith

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24, NIV)

Righteousness

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

(James 5:16, NIV)

Obedience

And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him. (1 John 3:22, NLT)

So whatever your need today, family & friend, look to God. Don’t wait for the perfect time to sit down and pray. Don’t wait until you have the ideal words. Let’s lift our voices to God in the morning quiet, on the way to work, and while we walk the dog, make dinner, or go shopping. All it takes is a few words. Let’s turn our hearts towards God in prayer today. He longs to hear us.

LEAVE WITH A PRAYER

You, your life, and your world can be affected far more than you ever dreamed possible by praying about them every day.

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Good morning 
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Lord, I thank You that You are the God of the impossible. You can do anything. I want to trust in Your ability and not my own. Teach me to see difficulties in my life from Your perspective. Help me to focus on You and Your power.

I thank you for waking me up this morning.  I thank you for being so good to me. Thank you for loving me beyond my faults and seeing my needs.  Thank you for my family and my friends.  Thank you for keeping me alive. For I know the best days are ahead. I know that you are not through with me yet.  
I pray that you would bring peace to my mind.  God, I join in agreement with your saints everywhere and give you praise and glory.   I pray that you would send your angels to keep watch over me day and night.
Help me walk closely with you and teach me how to abide in you. Empower me for the work you are calling me to do. Teach me to be gentle and humble in spirit. Lord, give me the grace I need to trust you with my worries and cares. I lay them at your feet. I don’t want to carry anything today except for your yoke, which helps me walk more closely with you.
Lord Jesus, you are my resting place. Help me find my rest in you.
In Your Name I pray, Amen.

                                 

As a divorced pastor, I was not aware of how much of an anomaly I was. The image of the preacher and his wife is still the dominant one (and I use the phrase “his wife” deliberately).  Even in the context of the most post-modern and progressive church, the image of the preacher and his/her family still remains strong. The clergy families may consist of two mommies or two daddies or a mommy and a daddy who have thought progressively about marriage. But that structure remains unchanged.

I remember talking to my pastor at the beginning of my first attempt at the ordination process. And he said I was going to struggle as a “single black female with children. ”And beyond the fact that it sounded a little petty to me and judgmental.   I did take his words very seriously and tried my best to hide the yearning and thought of preaching from my mind. I was still welcomed to continue as youth director and musician.  For me this was a personal issue with no real relevance to my vocational life as being a clergy. So I prayed and waited for the next pastor , the next and the next pastor.

“For some reason, I felt I had to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the ministry so I could feel free again. My siblings and friends talked almost casually about options and preferences as to careers, but with no evident sense of urgency. Not so with me. I did not then nor do I now know whether the burden of choice was a trait of personality, a kind of super-conscientiousness, whether the calling to ministry itself carried a weight, a burden, peculiar to the task itself. Rightly or wrongly, when I thought of possibly becoming a nurse, that would be a choice, 100 percent mine. When I considered becoming a minister, that was not totally my decision; I was responding to God’s will for me. Of course, I had been told that journalists, lawyers, teachers, merchants, farmers—all could understand their lives as a vocation, a calling, but what I am telling you is that I perceived, I felt, I experienced the idea of being a preacher as different, and that difference was sobering, even burdensome. That’s why advice about not being in a hurry, taking my time, was not helpful even if wise. If it was my decision, why could I not make it now; if it was God’s decision, why did not God tell me, or at least tell my father or my mother? I prayed for the ache to leave me.”

Finally my chance came as an older gentlemen became our Pastor after the appointments was read at the Annual Conference. I am a Methodist . This was a change of the moment the Pastor said, God  in my had a sense of humor. After this Pastor was there for a few months and the wheels began to turn for my good. All my patience and waiting on the right time finally came. I was admitted on trail and went through all the connections and finally , I was a licensed Pastor. Hallelujah!

Being single was hard especially with six children. Being single and a pastor was even harder with a job and school.  I haven’t preach a sermon on being single myself . I really didn’t think that it was important. I found out that the  church can be an isolating place for single people. Despite this, I love my job. I am grateful for the season of life I’m in, but that doesn’t mean I don’t wrestle with the challenges of being a single pastor.

People often ask me a lot of question about don’t I get lonely. This list get longer and longer and  if you’ve been in church leadership for a significant amount of time, you will hear some questions people have asked too. For single pastors, though, there are a unique set of situations that have to be navigated with grace and a firm tone. Like the request for a private prayer session, the hug that lingers way too long, or having a man tell you that God told him you were supposed to be his wife—even though God has not communicated that message to you. I learned pretty quickly how important boundaries are and the importance of referring specific cases to a male pastor. I learned quickly what the scripture that  warns us to guard our heart.

Another challenging issue for single pastors is work-life balance. In the church, work-life balance is often discussed within the context of marriage and family. I used to think that because I wasn’t married and had kids, work-life balance didn’t apply to me. No one explicitly says you need to have a healthy work-life balance so that you can have healthy friendships. The truth is that work-life balance applies to everyone. Just because I’m single doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t prioritize my friendships and self-care. I had to learn that it was okay to leave work at a normal hour to spend time with my family and friends, work out, or just do something for me.

Being a single pastor also makes have a dating life challenging. Dating within the church can be complicated, and everyone seems to know your business regardless of the size of your church. Even if you’re meeting people online or outside the church, I’ve found that one of the easiest way to shut down a conversation with a potential interest is to tell him what you do for a living. I never had that problem with person knocking down my door to take me out or even visit.

For some reason, church staffs tend to have a very high number of married people. Because of this, even simple staff gatherings and conversations can be a painful reminder of your singleness. It might be an invitation to attend a staff party with your spouse and you’re the only one who shows up alone because there wasn’t an opportunity to bring a date or friend.

Or it might be the constant reminder from coworkers to spend quality time with your family. One year, we were given staff Christmas gifts themed around spending time with your spouse and kids. It was a very thoughtful gift given with good intentions, but it was a painful reminder that I was once again alone for the holidays.

It can often seem as if the church places marriage above all other types of relationships. I believe marriage is a beautiful form of intimate relationship with another person, but to place it above all other relationships is problematic. There is beauty and joy to be found in relationships whether you’re single or married—and we miss out when we primarily focus on the marital relationships.

While there are a lot of challenges, there are also plenty of amazing experiences that come with this role. I am often entrusted with the stories of others who are in the same season of life as me. They’re usually struggling with similar things, wondering how to be content, and wondering if they’ll ever feel complete without a spouse. It’s a joy for me to offer messages of hope and new ways of approaching their singleness.

My hope has been born out of the pain of being single and wanting something different. I have watched friend after friend find “the one.” Each time I wonder if it will ever be my turn, and I question whether I can stay content in a season of life I never expected to last this long.

Through this journey, however, I’ve come to see that marriage isn’t the goal. God values inclusive community for all people—married, single, divorced, or widowed—and that’s what we’re working toward. God created us as relational beings made for this beautiful community.

There was a time when I focused solely on what was missing from my life: a spouse.  After a lot of prayer, therapy, and self-reflection, I realized that I was missing out on the beauty of all the different relationships that I already had in my life. I may not be a wife but I am a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, mentor, and pastor. I made a choice to invest deeply in these relationships and create a chosen family, a group of people that are committed to doing life with me for the long haul. Today, I have an amazing community made up of single people, married couples, and parents from different backgrounds, classes, and cultures. I cannot imagine doing life without them. We  navigate big decisions together, babysitter for each other’s kids, talked about the challenges of being single and married, vacations together, and cook meals together. They challenge me, support me, care for me, pray with me, and, most importantly, love me unconditionally. They are my family, and if I meet the man of my dreams tomorrow my family will continue to grow.

That is the beauty of the church. We are called to be a loving, supportive community for all people. Within the body of Christ, no one should feel like a second-class citizen because of their marital status. While I still wrestle with my singleness, I am committed to creating space in our community to discuss these issues. I’ve been given the gift of seeing how the church can unintentionally harm people in this season of life and how marriage can be the default perspective for many church leaders. Because God has allowed me to see this, I am able to share my perspective and help others see God and the value of community in new ways. God does not discriminate with his love, and he desires for us all to experience that love to the full, regardless of our marital status.

As single pastors, we get to wrestle with and model this truth. We have an opportunity to ask ourselves: How can we challenge our small-group members, both married and single, to expand their view of community? How are we helping single people invest in building well-rounded community that encourages them to grow and experience the love of God in tangible ways? How are we talking about relationships in holistic ways, rather than just from the perspective of marriage.

We should celebrate our singleness just as married pastors celebrate their marriages. We should tell the real stories of pain, joy, and celebration because, I promise you, there are others in your congregation who need to hear they’re not alone, they belong, and their story matters.

There is beauty in the stories and experiences of single people. We need to elevate those stories to combat the shame often associated with this season of life. The church needs the voices of single people in order to be at its best and experience God more fully. The New Testament is full of single people experiencing radical community, living full lives and changing the world. Why should our churches be any different?

It takes strength, vulnerability, and courage to share this part of our lives because there’s still some shame attached to being single. This is the reason I believe we need more leaders who are willing to show up, embrace their singleness, and share how the love of the Father and transformative community can remind us everyday that we are whole, valuable, and beautiful in the sight of God just as we are. So here I am from the call to the cloth and is striving on to perfection with the power and strength of God with me. I have learned on this journey I am not alone.

I never wanted to be a single mom. I never wanted to raise my five sons and one daughter alone. I didn’t think I could do it, physically, emotionally, or financially. As I reflect back on that time twenty plus years later I am grateful for that darkness for two reasons. Number one is  I know now that God never left me, and two It was this visit, this escape from my years of domestic violence trying to be the good submissive wife, perfect mother, and perfect Christian that I realized I was being controlled by my spouse.

How can I be a pastor who is a divorced single mom? I remember my dad telling me something along the lines of “Don’t forget what your identity in Christ is, not your married identity, not your mother identity, who You are in Christ”.  And I began to unravel all the trauma of the emotional and spiritual abuse.  I was so lost I remember just opening up the Bible and reading whatever it plopped open to (you know you’ve done this before).  It plopped open to Joshua… and I read the story of Rahab (Joshua chapter 2). Rahab the harlot who is in the lineage of Jesus. Rahab was used by God for her faithfulness to God’s people. In other words God used a harlot to help Gods people to safety while on their journey to the promised land. Yup. In my dark, possibly my darkest time, The Holy Spirit ( He knows what we need when we need it) led me to read the story of Rahab. It was then that I knew what I was supposed to do. If God used Rahab with her background and Rahab is in the lineage of Jesus. Then there was no doubt that God could use me even with the labels of divorced, single-mother. That brief moment of quiet time sparked hope deep inside my soul, and even though that Christmas I walked away with the most precious gifts that I could receive. My children and safety. We left just with the clothes on our back walking not looking back at the things that was behind us. It  wasn’t particularly happy or joyful but  I was also gifted with this little spark of hope and knew that somehow my messed up chaotic life would still be used for God’s glory.

I know there are people reading this who are on the verge of relationships falling apart, perhaps divorce, perhaps some sort of scandal, perhaps facing becoming a single parent and that this can feel overwhelming. I know that finding JOY in this season is way too hard. It’s okay to sit with darkness. God never leaves us no matter how dark it gets. I am not saying my thirty minutes of scripture reading about Rahab solved all my problems and all my darkness went away. Divorce, moving back in with my parent, being a single mother and + years of pastoral ministry has had all sorts of dark twisty roads. What I’m trying to say is that light may feel far far away and that’s ok. What I long for you to cling to is that many many years ago God knew all of the heartache and darkness of humanity on earth and sent God’s self to earth in the form of a little baby. To a mother and father whose lives were turned upside down and maybe at one point in time as parents they too had times of darkness. With all of whatever darkness or chaos is going on in your life right now, however far away joy may feel; what I want you to know is that God still wants you. God sees your heart, knows your pain, is there with you in your darkness and loves you, unconditionally.  And my prayer is that somehow the Holy Spirit will give you a tiny piece of hope that will rest deep inside your soul. I pray that little piece of hope, whatever it is, will grow and well up inside of you until you’re ready to lean into it and perhaps let it break through a bit of the darkness.

Today. My children are all married and grown with children. I have more than enough and I am enough. Be Blessed!