Wed Prayer for Wednesday Nov 4/20

   I have been noticing the brilliant red colours still displayed this late in the season on the “burning bush” that many people have in their yards. When I see these burning bushes, I am reminded of the remarkable encounter that Moses had with God. This is recorded in Exodus 3:1-6, “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. ³ So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” ⁴ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” ⁵ “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” ⁶ Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.” God needed to get Moses’ attention because He had an important task for Moses to do. God had chosen Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt. They were going to be set free after all this time of praying and calling out to God for help. There is a soul stirring pattern in history of the way, at decisive points in time, God has moved to answer heartfelt prayers. God appoints people like Moses to participate in his Divine plans. Moses did not feel well qualified, but God knew that he was the right person for the job.
   Do you sense, as I do, that we are witnessing some decisive turning points right before our eyes. We have been praying about the outcome of the American election because it will affect many people. Where do we see God at work in this? Who are the people that God is calling to serve Him in this time of huge turmoil? Whatever the outcome of who becomes President of the US, there will be need for people of faith, wherever they live, to be available to stand firm and true to what God calls them to do. We can be praying for these people. We can be praying to understand what God is asking of each of us. Like Moses, we may not feel qualified, but God can use us anyway. As we are praying, God can prepare us and God can equip us to serve Him in the ways He reveals. Everyone needs to be set free from the tyranny of this world. Everyone needs to be set free from the grip of sin. Please plan to join for our Wednesday Prayer Together tomorrow, November 4^th at 1 pm. We may not yet have confirmation of who is the US President at that time, but we will know with certainty that God is on His throne and He is able to use us to step into His liberating plans for our  troubled world.

Praying and trusting that God will cause history to unfold according to His plans, Pastor Lola

HERE IS OUR PRAYER: Our God who is watching over our world and continuing to care deeply for what happens here on earth where we live, we are looking to You in what is such a chaotic time. We think of other times in history when circumstances and events have caused people to call out to You for help. We have seen what can happen when people disregard You and Your guidance. We openly admit how much we need You. The Covid pandemic has caused multiple issues for us and people we know. It is a difficult thing not to feel safe. The security of being able to move about freely and to be confident we will not get sick has been taken from us. We realize that we just expected to be safe and for our families to be safe and well. Today we thank you for our safety and health knowing that it is not guaranteed. We are all tired of dealing with Covid and have no idea how much longer this will go on. You know God and we ask you to fill us with love in the times that impatience builds. We ask you to fill us with understanding when people behave in ways that confuse us. Please fill us with courage when we feel afraid. As we call out to You for help and deliverance, we pray that You will answer our prayers in the time and the ways You know are best. When You revealed Yourself to Moses, You gave Him a job to do. What do You have for each of us to do? How will we become part of bringing a message of freedom for those who are in bondage? In our desire for all people to be free, we enter now into deliberate prayers for the US and the people who live there. We have seen this country devastated by Covid, but also by hatred and division and mistrust. We are praying Holy God that now can be a time of healing. In what has been a very angry election process, we pray for a more peaceful road ahead. We pray that people will be able to trust each other again. We pray that people will demonstrate dependable character and love for neighbours. LORD, it will require Your grace for people to move together and to work together instead of against each other in days ahead. We ask for this grace. We pray that when there is temptation, following the election, to loot and to  destroy property that people will instead respect and protect each other’s property. In this moment, we pray that this will become a time of freedom. It is a freedom that only You can give. Please keep on reminding us to depend on You our God. You can bring good out of this LORD and that is our prayer. Help us like Moses, to notice You and to listen for Your instructions for us. Thank You that when we do choose to listen to You that You show us Yourself and things we had not seen and had not known before. Thank You that as You have been with us all along, You will be with us in the days ahead. Settle the upheaval here in Canada as well as in the States. Please forgive us for being like Moses and making excuses about why we can’t serve You. Instead, we want to be ambassadors for freedom and faith in Jesus! Please use our words in conversation and on social media to lift up the name of Jesus. Our God, we know that the events of this time in history are completely known to You. Today and in the days ahead, we place our confidence, not in human leaders, but in You. Guide us and cause us to be people You can use to change the course of history for the sake of Jesus Your Son, Who we can trust completely and in whose Name we pray. AMEN.