"And let the beauty (favor) of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands." (Psalm 90:17)
If it were only, "the work of our hands," this would be difficult for me to pray. But it is not. I believe that what I am about, and so many of you also, is serving our Lord Jesus Christ, His Church, His Kingdom. This is my motivation for these devotionals. This is my motivation for praying "on site with insight." This is my motivation for pastoral and missions work of the past 52 years. It would be most frightful to think for a moment that my life and, "work of our hands," were separate from Jesus and His command to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." For this I do pray, "....and establish...."
My "experience" in DC yesterday was most unusual. As I sat and prayed in the Committee on Indian Affairs, it seemed as though I saw government for what it too often tends to be-- talk. This is one reason Trump is closing the gap now on Hilary Clinton; Americans are disgusted with government by talk. I also visited with Dick Simmons, with whom I prayed on a weekly basis for over 10 years. He is still at it, and we both agreed that even though the situation in the world, and especially America, looks bleak, we press on in the battle.
Yesterday's Psalm reading is today's text. "Yes, establish the work of our hands," is a prayer I'm sure we can all pray. Some of us have labored most of our lives in the "vineyard." We have seen some "answers," some, however, are still "out there." I shall never forget hearing of the Japanese Follower of Jesus who prayed 80 years for Japan. If you look at the history of Japan, one could very easily be tempted to revert to cynicism and say, "What good did it do?" May we never, ever allow such a "spirit" to take a hold of us. I highly recommend a regular praying of, "Yes, establish the work of our hands."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that, "the work of our hands," is Your Work. Amen.
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Please continue to pray with us about the October Berlin Mission. If you have any "word from the Lord" about it, let us know.
If it were only, "the work of our hands," this would be difficult for me to pray. But it is not. I believe that what I am about, and so many of you also, is serving our Lord Jesus Christ, His Church, His Kingdom. This is my motivation for these devotionals. This is my motivation for praying "on site with insight." This is my motivation for pastoral and missions work of the past 52 years. It would be most frightful to think for a moment that my life and, "work of our hands," were separate from Jesus and His command to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." For this I do pray, "....and establish...."
My "experience" in DC yesterday was most unusual. As I sat and prayed in the Committee on Indian Affairs, it seemed as though I saw government for what it too often tends to be-- talk. This is one reason Trump is closing the gap now on Hilary Clinton; Americans are disgusted with government by talk. I also visited with Dick Simmons, with whom I prayed on a weekly basis for over 10 years. He is still at it, and we both agreed that even though the situation in the world, and especially America, looks bleak, we press on in the battle.
Yesterday's Psalm reading is today's text. "Yes, establish the work of our hands," is a prayer I'm sure we can all pray. Some of us have labored most of our lives in the "vineyard." We have seen some "answers," some, however, are still "out there." I shall never forget hearing of the Japanese Follower of Jesus who prayed 80 years for Japan. If you look at the history of Japan, one could very easily be tempted to revert to cynicism and say, "What good did it do?" May we never, ever allow such a "spirit" to take a hold of us. I highly recommend a regular praying of, "Yes, establish the work of our hands."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that, "the work of our hands," is Your Work. Amen.
***********************
Please continue to pray with us about the October Berlin Mission. If you have any "word from the Lord" about it, let us know.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
