by Joy Grady von Kleeck
Have you signed up for a Prayer Partner? I hope so. Remember the sign up sheets are in the back by the offering basket.
Earlier in the fall I was using a piece from You Version that I found helpful. There is no author listed. I am not copying it, but using some of the ideas.They use PRAY as an acronym. You may remember that the P stood for praise. The R stands for REPENT. Psalm 139:23 says "Search me O God and know my heart, see if there be any wicked way in me." Many times we don't realize we have sinned. Perhaps we have had a bad attitude, said words that hurt someone, or neglected to do something we promised to do. Of course, there are many other ways we fall short. Psalm 19:12-13 expresses it well. "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgressions."
I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. Sometimes we don't know we have sinned. That's why we need to search our hearts and let the Holy Spirit show us where we have fallen short. Our words are very important. "Sometimes we can say things that are detrimental, not only to us, but to others, and not really understand the damage we have done." That's why we need to ask God to put a spotlight on our sins so that we can repent. I John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Support the Christian Community in Afghanistan
by Joy Grady von Kleeck, Source: Advancing Native Missions
The small Christian community in Afghanistan is enduring extreme turmoil. Afghanistan is both one of the most difficult places to be a Christian and the home of one of the fastest-growing Christian populations in the world. In this time of chaos, people need the hope of Jesus more than ever. Christians are holding on in faith, believing that their Lord is with them and has a purpose for them.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
*Poverty has risen precipitously since the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
*Afghanistan shares language and cultural characteristics with neighboring Iran.
*Loyalty to family and tribe is very strong.
WAYS TO PRAY
1. Pray for the steady provision of basic necessities for Christians. Recent instability and conflict have made it even more difficult to get food, firewood and other needed items.
2. Pray for protection for small house churches. They need encouragement and hope as they face great uncertainty and opposition.
3. Pray for boldness and perseverance for Christian families reaching out to their Muslim neighbors and relatives with the Gospel. Many have been sharing meals and offering practical help when they are able, and this can be a wonderful witness for the Gospel.
"I Don't Know" Prayer
Anonymous Facebook Share
“Did you know there’s a prayer called the “I don’t know” prayer? It’s very spiritual. You just go off somewhere quiet and hidden and you walk right up to the heart of God and you say, “I don’t know.”
I don’t know where to go from here. I don’t know what is happening. I don’t know how to process this. I don’t know what to do with these emotions. I don’t know how to handle this situation.
It covers a lot of I don’t knows.
And then with whatever dusty little sand grain of faith you have, you say, “But You know.”
And you leave it there.
God most certainly hears that prayer.”
