Our Prayer Warrior

As for yesterday, what a precious time together. Doing one line from the hymn 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (kind of impromptu) was glorious. Kudos to the band and vocalists for facilitating that song with such sweetness. I swear that I heard the congregation sing that one line with greater passion and fervor than any of the others. It was a tender moment in our worship service. Even though we could not hear their prayers (because they were being offered in the quietness of their own hearts) I know that many people were laying down their lack of peace and needless pains at the feet of their gracious and mighty Savior.

Let me conclude by drawing your attention to one Person in particular who was praying yesterday, and I mean, in earnest. You talk about a prayer warrior. It's more than fair to say that he takes the cake. To be sure, Jesus prays for his ransomed people with zeal. He wants us to make it to the end, not "like someone escaping through a wall of flames" (1 Cor. 2:15b). He wants us to unearth our burdens and lay our anxieties down because he cares for us. So, while we pray (and even while we do not) he prays for us. I leave you with these words from the great Reformer, John Calvin. Read them patiently and carefully. "Since no man is worthy to come forward in his own name, and appear in the presence of God, our heavenly Father, to relieve us at once from fear and shame, with which all must feel oppressed, has given us his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to be our Advocate and Mediator, that under his guidance we may approach securely, confidently that with him for our Intercessor nothing which we ask in his name will be denied to us, as there is nothing which the Father can deny him... Unless our hope of obtaining what we ask is founded on him, it deprives us of the privilege of prayer... Hence, the sense of our own unworthiness must keep us far away, until Christ interpose, and convert a throne of dreadful glory into a throne of grace."

Comments

[Sharon]

Hi Brandon,

I read your blogs too.

Sharon

[Sharon]

Hi Brandon,

I read your blogs too.

Sharon

[Heather Manuel]

So, if I post a comment and tell you that I read your blog and find them RIVETING - will I get MY name in your blog??? Heather Manuel - that's H-e-a-t-h-e-r M-a-n-u-e-l.

Seriously, be encouraged - there are now at least 3 people who read them!

You're awesome, Brandon!

[west]

i always read your blawg dude.

[Topper]

Hey,

Turn your blogging blues into rock & roll...

We are reading!!

And...it's really worth reading.

Thanks!

Topper

[Jeremy]

Even though I don't belong to the worship community, I'm going to post a reply - I DO read your blog as well, for the keen insight into the human dilemma.

And there you have it.