Thanksgiving
Verse for the week:
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2)
Thanksgiving:
First of all, on behalf of everyone who recently traveled to India to support the work of RGMMI, I would like to say a sincere THANK YOU for your prayers. We felt the prayers in a mighty way! God spoke profoundly to each of our hearts, and we trust and pray that we can now be good stewards of what we've seen and experienced. Praise Jesus! I hope to share more in the future.
Secondly, in India it was pointed out to me that the greek _expression "continue in prayer" found in Colossians 4:2 is the equivalent of saying, "addict yourselves to prayer." I found this to be profoundly challenging. Am I addicted to prayer? Is prayer such a part of me that I can't go long without it? May we all hold each other accountable to pray!
I also found it challenging that Paul makes such a strong link between prayer and thanksgiving. We are to pray with thankful hearts. I must confess that while in India, as I witnessed multiplied millions of people worshipping idols and desiring to have their sins washed away by bathing in "holy rivers," it was hard for me to give thanks. But I am thankful that all the power of Jesus Christ is available to us, the Church, and that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against us (Matt 16:18) if we humbly go forth to preach the Gospel.
This thanksgiving season, may we all thank and praise God for the opportunity to play a part in winning the 10/40 Window and other unreached areas for His glory by "addicting ourselves" to prayer. I consider it the highest honor to pray alongside each of you for the "healing of the nations" (Rev. 22:2). I truly thank God for each of you!
Secondly, in India it was pointed out to me that the greek _expression "continue in prayer" found in Colossians 4:2 is the equivalent of saying, "addict yourselves to prayer." I found this to be profoundly challenging. Am I addicted to prayer? Is prayer such a part of me that I can't go long without it? May we all hold each other accountable to pray!
I also found it challenging that Paul makes such a strong link between prayer and thanksgiving. We are to pray with thankful hearts. I must confess that while in India, as I witnessed multiplied millions of people worshipping idols and desiring to have their sins washed away by bathing in "holy rivers," it was hard for me to give thanks. But I am thankful that all the power of Jesus Christ is available to us, the Church, and that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against us (Matt 16:18) if we humbly go forth to preach the Gospel.
This thanksgiving season, may we all thank and praise God for the opportunity to play a part in winning the 10/40 Window and other unreached areas for His glory by "addicting ourselves" to prayer. I consider it the highest honor to pray alongside each of you for the "healing of the nations" (Rev. 22:2). I truly thank God for each of you!
Your Prayer Partner,
Joe G.
-----------------------
"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray." - Samuel Chadwick
