CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 708

“Skipping Stones”

Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV) But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
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Have you ever skipped stones across the surface of a lake or pond? Having selected just the ‘right’ stone shaped for your purpose you would expertly launch it across the water watching it lightly skip and bounce several times before finally sinking. As Christians, many of us are like skipping stones: shaped, chosen, launched and immersed.

SHAPED: Like good skipping stones we also are uniquely shaped and gifted by God to fulfill His purpose in this life. Our life experiences, both good and bad, have shaped our attitudes and character. God has allowed the joys and sorrows of life to shape us and prepare us for His purpose.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Rom 8:28

CHOSEN: In a memorable quotation from the movie Fiddler on The Roof, Tevye speaking to God says: “I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can’t You choose someone else?” Being chosen can sometimes be a scary thing. A pinch hitter chosen in the bottom of the ninth as a team’s last hope of winning the game feels the knot in his stomach and the tightness in his throat as he approaches the batter’s box. Likewise, the young adult chosen by draft to serve during a time of war feels a similar apprehension as they report for duty.

As you come to him, a living stone …in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. – 1Peter 2:4,5

This same spiritual house, the Body of Christ represented by your local church community of believers is a source of preparing and equipping you for what God has chosen you to do. It is also a source of encouragement as you step out in obedient faith.

And the brothers …came … to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. -Acts 28:15

LAUNCHED: Do you find yourself in a place that you really don’t want to be? Life circumstances have dictated a change. Perhaps it was a job change, a loss, demotion, or perhaps even a promotion has placed you in an unfamiliar environment. You may find yourself in another home, city, state, or perhaps another country far from home. Like a skipping stone you touch your new environment lightly and attempt to keep going. Like the Israelites during the Exodus, your desire is to ‘return to Egypt’ – to your former familiar context even though it was harsh and miserable.

IMMERSED: In obedience to God’s call on our life, we learn to be content in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. (Phil 4:11) We need to ‘grow where we are planted’. We need to carry the light of the Lord’s presence into our new environment. We need to pray and seek the welfare of our new location and through its blessing of God we will be blessed.

Pray for the courage to step out in faith, totally abandoned to God’s purpose and will. Don’t touch your new environment lightly but rather immerse yourself in the abiding presence of God and carry His light and blessing to everyone around you.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God