http://goodshepherdnorwalk.org/event/teach-us-to-pray-message-series/
From that title, you are probably thinking how in the world do those two words go together…pray and pirate. Stay with me for a moment while I try to explain.
This weekend has been a weekend packed full of so many emotions.
Happy…
Sad…
Angry…
Frustrated…
Lonely…
Doubtful…
Loving…
Joyful…
Shocked…
Excited…
Uncertain…
Scared…
With many of these emotions came the questions, “How can I help? What can I do to make it better?”
A sweet baby boy born with no brain activity. He went home on a feeding tube with the brand new momma hopeful his condition will improve and he will be able to laugh and play and sit up someday.
A neighbor going through chemotherapy for breast cancer and the first four treatments were evil, taking her down into a pit of sickness. This diagnosis came to her barely two weeks after she lost her husband unexpectedly. She continues to fight and is thankful for her children who are there to help as often as they are able.
A cousin celebrated his 70th birthday. He gave me a hug but could not recall my name. Even more sadly, he did not recognize his son. His family shared that he has dementia and they are considering moving him into a nursing home.
Another cousin grieving the loss of her 8-month-old granddaughter to bronchial phenomena, which is a silent killer of infants. She is drowning in sadness. Her tears were endless while we visited.
I am heartbroken for these beautiful human beings. I want to help. I want to make it better! What can I do?
I can pray! I can PRAY like a PIRATE:
P – Praise God first. Thank Him for all his goodness (Psalm 75:1).
R – Repent of all our sins for we are sinners in this world (Acts 3:19).
A – Acknowledge that he is God, our savior, our guide, our comforter, our healer, our love (Proverbs 3:6).
Y – Yearn to know Him. Build a relationship with God by reading scriptures and spending time with him (Psalm 63:1).
like a
P – Passionately pray unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
I – Intently ask the Lord for what we hope for (ex. healing) then believe and trust (Luke 22:44).
R – Repeatedly give thanks for His goodness and for hearing our prayers (Matthew 7:7-8).
A – Audaciously come before the throne on our knees with love in our hearts (James 1:7-8).
T – Tenaciously continue to pray and ask for help for those we love (Romans 12:12).
E – Explicitly pray for people, events, problems, troubles that are in our lives (John 15:7-8).
We know the answers to prayers are not always what we hope for. Yet, never lose hope, and continue to have faith and to PRAY like a PIRATE in the precious name of Jesus.
Stay Calm & PRAY!
Profs Dr. Wendy & Dr. V.
edUconnections 