18th-24th November 2024
On a recent day out with my grandkids we spent some time over at Minnowburn, close to Shaw’s Bridge. It is a favourite haunt of ours, set in beautiful countryside and yet just a couple of miles from Belfast city centre. At this time of year the autumn colours are just spectacular and, of course, there is a beautiful walk to the Giant’s Ring. It is as we would say, ‘A hidden gem’.
And for those who are coffee lovers a French Citroen van is parked there at weekends and some weekday times for great coffee (tea and other beverages served too!) and even a wood fire pizza if your appetite allows! On this occasion, by the time we returned from our walk, the van was gone and disappointment ensued.
When the grandkids are with us, they love to throw sticks in the river and watch them float under the bridge, out the other side and meander into the distance. Sometimes they will try to race the sticks and, depending on how much rain we have had, that can be a race or a slow walk!
As I watched the joy on the faces of my grandkids as they revelled in the simple joy of throwing sticks into the river, I was reminded of a question that Don Carson posed in his book, ‘A Call to Spiritual Reformation’.
What shapes your prayer life?
Don Carson suggested that we do not drift into spiritual life, like a stick floating away at the bequest of the flow of the river. We do not drift into disciplined prayer by just waiting and expecting something to occur. His understanding of the answer to the question of what shapes our prayer life was that we will not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray.
At first reading I thought that makes sense. Then I thought that’s deep, they are wise words, that, although simple in their meaning, are profound in their practice.
How often have you heard someone say, ‘We can always take the time to experience and enjoy the things we love to do, the things we want to do’? That is the truth!
If we really want to do something we take the time to do it, we prioritise, we plan, we put it in the diary, we let people know.
I wonder if like me, when it comes to prayer, this is still an area of your walk with God that you constantly struggle to feel comfortable with. It’s not that you never pray but for some strange reason it can still seem strange and a struggle to pray, especially in the company of others.
I have often reminded myself of the old adage, ‘The more you practice the better you become’. Can we say the same about prayer? Are we comfortable and willing to practice, to engage, to actually make a habit of praying regularly, consistently, to pray on our own, to pray with others when opportunity arises and, as our core value states, ‘We want prayer to be a natural part of every day and every circumstance.’?
One of the many lessons we can learn from God’s word is that people of prayer set aside time to pray. It’s a bit like having a diary and planning meetings. If we don’t plan ahead and make a note we can easily forget and either miss the meeting completely or turn up late!
As Paul prays (e.g. Romans 1:10; Ephesians 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:2) there is the suggestion that he set aside specific times as did Jesus himself (Luke 5:16). This week, why not try to set a specific time aside to come to our Heavenly Father in prayer and enjoy time in conversation with him.
This week we will be using Paul’s prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1 as a guide to help us in our daily thoughts and prayers.
Written by David Mairs
MONDAY
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3
As we start a new week, let’s begin by giving thanks to God for our brothers and sisters in Christ that we know and love at Glenabbey and around the world. May our faith in God continue to grow and inform us of the importance of praying individually and corporately for one another. May we take the time and plan to spend time in prayer. May our love, concern, compassion for others increase and motivate us to pray. Take time to pray for those we know who have lost a loved one and are grieving, or those currently in hospital awaiting surgery or recovering from surgery, or those living with serious underlying health conditions that limit their ability to be out and about each day, or those in nursing care who are no longer able to live in their own homes. Let us take time to bring them to the Lord in prayer this morning and ask that his presence would be evident, real and an encouragement to them.
TUESDAY
Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 2 Thessalonians 1:4
Have you ever noticed how some individuals or families seem to have more than what seems to be their fair share of persecution and trial, or of misfortune and health issues. Maybe this is how you feel yourself or you know someone that is really struggling with a particularly challenging set of circumstances. Maybe someone’s mental health is a concern in these days? Maybe someone is struggling with loneliness? Maybe someone is having a crisis of faith, struggling to see God in the midst of all the pain and suffering that we hear about each day. Pray for them, that they may set their hearts on things above (Colossians 3:1) and know God’s presence and peace in their lives.
Take time to also give thanks for those whose faith is remaining firm, for those who are pressing on, staying close to God, exhibiting the grace of God in powerful ways by how they live their lives.
WEDNESDAY
All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 2 Thessalonians 1:5
The faithfulness of the Thessalonians under trial, which Paul has given thanks for, is evidence that God’s judgement is right and as a result they will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God! What an incredible thought, that how we respond to the circumstances of life is evidence that God’s judgement is right and by growing in our faith, loving others as we have been commanded, persevering in the midst of hardship … it is in this way that we display, despite our failings and struggles, that ultimately our allegiance is to follow the Lord and hold on to him despite what life may throw at us. Pray that God would continue to enable you to persevere and be counted worthy of being his child by how you live your life in this moment in time.
THURSDAY
God is just: he will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might … 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
How often have we been reminded through the teaching of God’s word that there will be vindication and justice and that evil will not go unpunished? God is just and when he returns he will judge. For some there will be great joy and for many there will be great sorrow. As we are reminded that God is just and will return one day, let us take time to pray for those we know who do not as yet have personal faith in Jesus Christ. Let us pray that they would run to God as opposed to away from him. Pray that you may get opportunities to share your faith, in new ways to build gospel bridges. Ask God to soften hearts, enlighten and reveal the truth of who he is and in so doing to bring many to faith in him.
FRIDAY
… on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marvelled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. 2 Thessalonians 1:10
Have you ever taken the time to think about ‘the day he comes’!? When he is glorified in his people and marvelled at among all those who know him personally. What a day that will be! This includes YOU! Remember back, if you can, to the time you came to know Jesus personally, thank God for revealing the truth of who he is and what his Son, Jesus, has done for you. Maybe someone had a specific role to play in sharing the gospel with you – give thanks for them. Ask God to help you be light into someone’s darkness, that they may be drawn closer to God.
SATURDAY
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 2 Thessalonians 1:11
What are your desires for goodness and what deeds are prompted by faith? Give thanks for the good things that God enables you to do for him, the good works he has prepared in advance for you to do! Ask him to continue to work out his purposes through you and to remind you of your purpose to be part of his body, the church. Ask him to give you creative thoughts about how to connect with people at this time and to be a positive impact with your family, friends and neighbours. May that conversation on the phone, or video call or chat across the garden fence be used by God to change people’s lives and understanding of him.
SUNDAY
We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:12
Paul ends this prayer by giving the reason why he prayed in the first place. So that the name of the Lord Jesus is glorified in you and you in him! Let us end this week with this prayer in our hearts for ourselves and for those we have prayed for during the week. That the Lord Jesus is glorified in them and us according to his incredible, amazing grace. Amen.