February 2017

Dear Friends,

Do you ever feel just plain worn out? I don’t mean the fatigue of one hard day’s work, or even a week of a pressing schedule. I mean that deep down bone tired you feel after an extended period of stress, anxiety, or hard work. Did you ever feel that way? Sure.

I read recently this statement, “Christians are big on systems. There are ten steps toward a happy marriage, five ways to know God’s will, ...six steps toward a more effective prayer life.” Like the rest of American culture Christians like to know what we can do in sequential steps and we’d like the same kind of advice in handling stress. Sometimes ten steps is too many. Sometimes what we are called to do is to persevere, and to trust.

Then I read this short account. A lawyer shared his prayer life with his friend, “I thought my problems with prayer were due to not knowing the system. So I read this book, learned the rules and determined that now I could really pray. I went into my office early, got out the book, and began to pray. It was the worst prayer time I ever had.”
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This gentleman forgot something very important. God is not a system. God is a person. Systems have their place but they can not replace relationship. We can learn a lot about praying that can be helpful, but never forget to persevere and to trust.

Isaiah 40:31 reads, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

God gives strength to his children as they wait upon him. He hasn’t lost sight of you. He is not ignoring your need or your cry for help. Wait on the Lord. He will answer.

Yours in Christ,
 ~ Pastor Byron 

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