By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC
Lenten blessings! There is much to look forward to this month with Holy Week and Easter quickly upon us and the Conference Annual Meeting Celebration the week after that! Per last months article’s call to fasting I want to report that I gave up coffee and watching Golden State Warriors basketball games. For anybody who knows me, that was a “go big or go home” decision! First world challenges….I know, I know… I share to encourage and to warm up being on the journey together and not from a spirit of bringing attention to myself. How is this spiritual discipline going for you? I’d love to hear – really…
Though caffeine and entertainment may seem shallow, it has been a meaningful discipline and journey for me. As I leaned into Lent, what surprisingly emerged was also a commitment to add more concerted times of prayer. The fasting sent me deeper. It’s been so good… I actually scheduled time in my calendar – so necessary! It was a commitment to fast from the busyness that is life and practice what I say, teach, and preach I believe in but truthfully too often I’m a practical atheist. I can clearly communicate to you that I believe in God and that I believe in the power of prayer. But my life does not as clearly reflect how real God and prayer is. Martin Luther said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” I really need to breathe! I don’t want to spiritually suffocate!
Scripture shines light on this appropriation of super-power. It gives us the good stuff, not the artificial stuff. Like a dear pants for those cool streams, our souls long to connect with God. We daily sing and sit and practice God’s presence in a way that we linger at these live-giving, purpose-sharpening waters. We daily practice and lean into surrender as we make God our absolute center (Ps. 42). It truly is our superpower.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.1
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. The Lord…hears the prayer of the righteous. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Devote yourselves to prayer being watchful and thankful.2
Charles Spurgeon said, ”True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” Wow wow wow!
Friends, as we walk closer to Holy Week, it is my prayer that you would not merely find things to do; go to services, fast, listen to sermons. I trust that you will sit with God, see him, experience him. I hope that you will fervently cry out to God and linger. I pray that your thirsty soul will be quenched with the real stuff and that the miracle of Easter will continue to absolutely change your life. Holy Spirit stir us to prayer and stir us in our prayers!
Easter blessings. I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting Celebration at West Hills. Yes, we will be setting time aside to pray together. Breathe!
1 Philippians 4:6, 7; Romans 12:12
2 Luke 11:9; Proverbs 15:29, 1 Chronicles 16:11; Colossians 4:2