Sometimes life can be so overwhelming even when you are living with God as your Pilot. The turbulence can be so great at times that you feel like you are going to crash. There are times of delay that really are not delay but are times of waiting on God's time for a situation. There is never Pilot error but instead times when we, as the co-pilot, take the wheel and make mistakes. There are people throughout our time on these earth to assist us when we have a need just as a flight attendant assists travelers. There are others who come into our life that we can minister to and ones to minister to us just as there are fellow travelers on planes. At times, there are people who try to highjack planes just as there are people who try to tear our belief system apart. Just as a plane needs to refuel and have regular maintenance to keep going in tip-top shape, we need to stay in God's presence, read His Word, pray, and exercise our faith to stay tuned up with God. When times of turbulence come our way, we need to remember to follow the emergency guidelines and not panic. I was thinking this morning about the saying 'it takes a village to raise a child.' In that same sense, it takes our whole being and interaction with God and others to live a life for Him. We must understand we cannot live our life alone but instead need to depend upon Him to open doors for us to have interaction with others. That is one of the reasons it is so important to be a part of a corporate body of believers. We need one another. We need to learn from others. We need to experience life with others. We need for people to see how we deal with situations in life. We also need to be accountable to others. It hurts my heart to hear people say they 'don't need to go to church to be a Christian.' I use to agree with that statement but do not any longer. In Hebrews 10, Paul wrote of the perseverance of walking in our faith. In verses twenty four and twenty five it reads:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
There are many who call themselves Christians yet they are not following God. They are allowing the world to take over their calendar, checkbook, etc. These ways are taking them out of 'good' habits and replacing them with 'bad' ones. I prayed a long time last night before going to sleep for pastors. I prayed for...
- those who are saying what people want to hear instead of what God gives them to wake up before people die and go to hell.
- pastors who are all about numbers to realize that will not get them nor their people into heaven.
- people on the 'fringe' of a church to give themselves completely to God and allow Him to use them for further His Kingdom.
- pastors who are physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially drained to seek God's will before they become spiritually drained.
- pastors to quit being afraid of what people will think or who will leave the church if they do or say something God has told them to stand upon II Timothy 1:7 in His empowerment. If God gives us something to do or say, He will not allow us to fail.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the privilege to pray for pastors! Thank You for the call You have put on the lives of Your sons and daughters. Father, I pray once again for my pastor. I pray You will empower Doc with Your supernatural strength not just to be able to preach today but to feel strong in You. I pray against his stomach issues that are not allowing him to eat. I pray Your mighty hand will heal Him sooner than later on this earth. Lord, cleanse us both so You can fill us with more of Your empowerment. I pray for a physical touch on Brad as he awaits a pacemaker tomorrow; a renewal in David as he is on Sabbatical; Steve with Peggy's cancer; and so many more pastors who need Your touch. Lord, Your servants need You in a powerful way. Those who will be in the pulpit today need Your empowerment to preach what You desire and not necessarily what they desire. I pray for more of Your servants to walk in Your ways, sold out to You. I pray for more of them to allow You to take the wheel of their flight while on this earth. Thank You Father for being My Pilot! Amen.
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