Wow, after such a mild experience with winter, during 2024 and even most of January, things sure seem to have changed their direction.
This past week alone, we've cleared our 120ft lane-way and turnaround 7 times. Thank God for a good snowblower and a family of eager hands, or we would have been stuck, instead of just delayed at home. As it was, my son made it to work, when many others, closer, decided not to brave the weather. After the initial heavy blanket drop of snow, in each storm, our plows, up here in City of Kawartha Lakes, have done a tremendous job at getting, and keeping things cleared. Thank You.
In addition, neighbours have responded, helping push out those who are stuck. Others have assisted in the clearing of the repeatedly plowed pile of snow, at the end of the lanes of those who are unable to keep up. Whether one realizes it or not, this is God laying on the hearts of people, concern for others in empathetic concern, many times when they themselves are in a hurry.
Well, Sunday rolls around and some churches were closed, hopefully out of their own particular concern for those who would attend. Ironically, those who would attend, would have done so out of a conscious choice to gather together to worship God. Resultantly, this would have made the experience a more dedicated and therefore enjoyable one to be together.
As it was, this past Sunday, our church was closed, so we prayed, asking Jesus to direct us as to whether it was safe to travel. Each of us got an affirmation to go in, and so shovelling out we traversed the weather, and travelled in rather easily, I might add, to Victory Christian Centre. They still had open doors and a group of determined souls, who had come to gather and worship in the name of Jesus.
Pastor John Benschop's sermon was very apropos, titled, “Why Pray?” It was on the necessity and value of Prayer. In distinction, it was not teaching some vague, absence of emptying oneself, like so many think is the same. Instead, it was about the deliberate opening of oneself to God, through Christ Jesus, to be filled with the good things God has prepared, for those who carry the name of Jesus.
He started with Canadian statistics. These reveal 6% of the population who address themselves as “Born Again.” This can be also defined as those who live in interactive, dynamic, relationship with God through Jesus. Further, statistics reveal 50% of Canadians openly say they are Christians of one denomination or another. Yet, of these, when asked how often they pray, most admitted they only spend 1-2 minutes in prayer a day. This exposes the central struggle of many Christian's lives, and why they experience so little in the way of response from God. Interestingly, it is also why so many then choose to blame God when things go sour in their lives.
The sermon continued.
What is prayer? A poignant question, as this is a kind of the fly in the ointment for many.
He directed us to approach prayer as a way of communicating with God, as being a time to come to know God and His will better. Yet he didn't leave it so one sided, he encouraged us to open our inner ourselves to God to be corrected, directed, and effected by God, so we may navigate better in the scheme of things, inwardly as well.
As a result of still wanting to be the one in control, many struggle, viewing prayer as a time when we express our “laundry list” of requests to God. Whites here, colours there, and delicate things over here, kinda thing. So, a subtle resistance in prayer creeps in, ultimately effecting the centre focus of ones expectation and where we place our trust.
Have you ever noticed individuals who are controllers or those who are insecure, both push a lot. Well the pastor went on to say, a key element in prayer is 'being quiet.' Then we need to learn to listen to and for God's leading, nudging, direction, or “His Word.”
Prayer gives one access to God, this is the environment in which He shares what He has for us. Prayer is simply talking and listening to God.
Emphatically, pastor John desired to communicate, “God is interested in You!” God looks at your hearts intention when you make an honest effort to be real and pray. He went on to share, perfect polished prayers are not the goal, openness is. However there are circumstances, thoughts, and activity of a very real enemy which want to confuse this clarity around prayer. These are attempt to teach us to move in anything but actually engaging with God. Not a coincidence. The result is, we fear we are to busy, our situation is too complicated to communicate, or we are not worthy to talk with, let alone receive from God.
'God help me to see how big you are and how much you care, so I don't become captivated by the condition of my circumstances.'
Conversely, the pastor gave this example, “If I had a million dollars, I would share among my children, wouldn't you?” We are far from perfect in our lives, yet we would still want to help the lives of those we love. Jesus said, “how much more shall your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” Mathew 7:11b - Modern King James Version So prayer is the learning of this.
Then came Jeremiah 29:12. It shows God listens to our prayers. Consequently, they have to be important. So from scripture, he gave many sound reasons to pray:
Prayer helps one overcome and get to know God, consequently, to find security in Him. “If God is for us, who can be against us.” Romans 8:31b, International Standard Version, ISV
So what do we have to fear? We gain in Faith and Trust when we pray. Fear is the absence of Love and the security it provides. Without it we cannot really rest in life. We don't have to know everything, this is the paradox of the work of trust in God and entering into rest. Resting on the finished work Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, instead of our own work.
Hebrews 4:11 refers to others who said they believed in God but continued to try to live their lives by rules and their own efforts. “Let us then, do our best to receive that rest, so that no one of us will fail as they did because of their lack of faith.” Good News Bible, GNB
In prayer we find God's intentions for us.
Psalm 145:18 says, “God is near to all who call on Him in truth.
Romans 8:38-(39)says, “Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Easy-to-Read Version, ERV
In prayer, we don't have to strive in life, instead God helps us enter into rest, as He reveals His plans. Psalm 23 illustrates God as a shepherd to lead us, and as our provider, internally, even to the point of overflow, regardless of the presence of opposition in our lives. It paints a picture of rest, in Green pastures, beside still waters, without fear, in the security of the presence of the Lord.
In the Lord's prayer we read, “We pray that your kingdom will come— that what you want will be done here on earth, the same as in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 ERV
As God shares His will, He also has in mind those things involving the lives around. So we see, as we journey in Jesus, much of navigating life is a matter of context. This is where most of the struggle comes from, where our difficulty lies in understanding God's ways, when we do pray. However, in our surrender we become aware of God at work. So as He shares, we come to learn, life is not about ourselves but about God. Very often, when we pray He leads us to lift up the needs of others.
In 1Corinthians 2:9&10a, we see, “(9)But as the Scriptures say, "No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. (10a) But God has shown us these things through the Spirit.” ERV
Next, the pastor simply said, “It's hard to fix lazy.” Many of us are kinda lazy in our relationships and so are dissatisfied with life. Still, as we seek God we will find He is there to provide courage, and be the strength and Hope for us. However. He won't experience this impartation if we don't do our relational part. Even when we do, we will not always have full understanding, still God will always stick with us, providing direction through it all. So what is needful is our response to the way God has set it up.
Then the pastor shared where the rubber meets the road. In Hebrews 11:6 it states, “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.” So proper priorities in what God initiates is paramount. This can enables us to relax and engenders trust, so we may believe God and release to his ways.
As we see in the Word, regarding Abraham's response to what God had said to him. Romans 4:17 says, ““as the scripture says, "I have made you father of many nations." So the promise is good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed—the God who brings the dead to life and whose command brings into being what did not exist.” Eventually, this brought the Messiah to this world. This certainly never existed before. He then died and rose to new life, so we could receive His life past death as our salvation. It was the work of God's power; not struggle in our menial efforts.
1Cor 2:5 states, “Your faith, then, does not rest on human wisdom but on God's power.” We can rest in that power.
In addition, God knows what will happen, and when we are not faithful, God will not defy His own nature. He still will provide for our change to bring us through, through teaching (discipline). Actually, God is continually speaking antidotes to all of life's concerns. So there is no need to be anxious in the white-outs in life. Just keep seeking God in prayer, even if you feel you were to blame for what came upon you, God will forgive and turn things around for you.
The pastor then asked, “Do you ever feel like you need a break?” God forgives when we repent and move forward with Him. Philippians 4:5 instructs us to be gentle with others because, when we pray, we are in the Lord's presence. Consequently we will not interact with a sense of panic. It goes on to say, in 4:6-9, “(6)Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. (7)Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Not only will we be able to dispense our cares to God but He, out of His Love in response, will impart to us a keeping of peace.
Pastor John has experienced the truth personally, in what he was sharing. He came through heavy Covid, while he was given by doctors, days to live. Of course, as well meaning as they may be, they can only see so far, yet God's “command brings into being what did not exist.” So he then pressed in to God in prayer, thanking Him for His promises of life and came out victorious over Covid. Recently, he has dealt with scarring in his heart from previous heart issues and stints, however, Pastor John knows the Way. As a result, on this Sunday, when many had decided to stay home because of the weather reports of man, He was in the pulpit delivering this Word of Hope and direction from God, to the hearts of those who would come to hear.
I also have experienced the truth of what he shared in my own life in healing and victory, as have so many faithful who stand on God's word. It's God's Word which does the work we just need to continually stand on it, in the Faith of Christ and in His rest.
When the puzzle pieces seemed to fall apart, and the issues of life get so frenzied, God is still at the ready. We simply need to accept what He is sharing and move to pray in it, until the results happen. It's not stubbornness, it's just 'resting.' It's resting and actively relying on what has been revealed to a heart through God's Word, and then believing Jesus has and is the answer. It's just a real thing. So if you turn to Jesus and ask Him to be your Lord and Saviour you can experience this leading of trust and security in God. He will enter your life, and in the emotional snow storms of life you to will be enabled to rest in it's Winter Wonderland.
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