Fearlessly Courageous

Fearlessly Courageous

Desk of Dennis Piller

2/15/2021

The Prayers of Broken Stones

I have wondered how you have done this last week on God’s call to prayer. I know how easy it is to be distracted and forgetful. But I know that our God understands that too.

I believe there’s a huge difference in waiting for a storm and preparing for one.

A wall to protect us is built one stone at a time. One prayer at a time. And I am so blessed and so thankful that God uses flawed servants to attend to his will. So, as you consider how you may have dropped the ball this last week consider Hebrews 13:7 “remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” I love how God allowed us to consider their lives so that we might peer through the imperfections of their faith but still behold the beauty of their God and our God. In Romans 9:17 Paul spoke it over the life of the pagan pharaoh: “for this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” The Lord calls who he wills. He uses who he chooses to accomplish his glory. Psalms 102:18 “ let’s this recorded for generations to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.” The history of the world is a planet filled with broken stones like you and me that are part of the wall of grace that God uses to surround his people. Their stories and even ours at one time or another are sacred altars designed to awaken worship in the hearts of those who will take time to remember and see beyond themselves. God has forever given us examples of those who went before us and even those that walk among us to inspire us to step out of the ordinary and into his extraordinary grace and future. So may I encourage you again this week to call your family to prayer. Even if you’re a family of one, call someone to choose an evening. Select an hour or a half-hour to read and to pray to cover our homes, our cities, and our nation with the blood of Christ. So that we might be obedient to the word that he gave us last week that a “Storm is coming” and that the fervent prayers of the faithful avail much.” James 5:16 He promised that if we would come together, we would stay the brunt of its damage John Piper said the aim of God‘s providence in the history of the world is worship flowing from the people of God. 10,000 stores of grace are the refinement of faith, the sustaining of hope, and the guidance of love. Romans 15:4 “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”. I have hope today. Today is a day to be inspired to pray. God’s word last Monday was a clear directive. But may I ask who are your heroes? Could it be Paul and Peter or perhaps David or Abraham or maybe a grandmother? Or could it be someone around you that you admire and that inspires you to be a more godly man or woman? I look back at the flaws of our forefathers and they give me hope that God could use me too. Their greatness inspired me to venture beyond the ordinary of my life that I might be one of those broken stones in the wall that God has called to fortify his city on a hill. A wall made of only broken stones held together by God’s grace, in effect making not just a stronghold of faith but an altar to show forth God’s glory and vast love. Join with us, pray with us, be intentional With us, be obedient to heed God’s call to pray in the unity of our faith. Tell someone what you are doing. Commit, by being held accountable by your words of faith. So we might be like the leper and cry. Have mercy on me oh Lord!