Prayer Letter - 24 May 2005

To: Prayer Partners
From: Pastor Lucenay

Last Sunday we considered the subject of anger. Our text was James 1:19. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Many people responded to various parts of the message. Perhaps this is a good week for us to pray through this verse.

Be quick to listen. When the emotions are in gear, expressing our feelings is often the first thing we want to do. Yet, the Bible teaches us to concentrate on listening rather than erupting with our thoughts and feelings. Think through your walk with God the past few days. Ask God to show you what kind of listener you have been. Seek to explore the conversations where you were more concerned about what you had to say than about understanding the other person, much less understanding God’s direction in a given situation. I know my quick mind can lead me to jump to conclusions and interrupt another before giving the other person a chance to express herself/himself. One of the listening disciplines is to pray while listening and invite God to help you understand what the other person is saying and the way God would have you respond. Such a prayer requires giving up the right to presume that God will automatically agree with your assessment of any given situation. Inviting God to guide your listening invites God to lead you into understanding a person and a situation from a perspective outlined in grace, filled with faith, focused in love, and concentrating on God’s best in the situation. Max Lucado wrote a book recently entitled It’s Not About Me. Those who are quick to listen take a giant step away from self-centeredness in an effort to be God’s people in each situation.

Be…slow to speak. I feel those words almost push me toward a personality change. Some people are great listeners. Other people talk constantly. How do I pray to be slow to speak? Perhaps the key to asking God to make us slow to speak is to invite God to help us know when to speak and when not to speak. Once the words are out they cannot be reclaimed. I believe God wants us to think about our words and the effect these words will have on others. Asking God to guide our words requires a little time and thought. Just because I feel like saying something or want to say something is not good enough. This year we have repeatedly said, Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17). Frankly, not all the words I feel like saying or even say could be said in the name of the Lord Jesus. How about you and your words? Perhaps we should pray with the Psalmist, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). Ask God to show you the words that have fallen from your lips and brought blessing to others. Invite God to show you the words that rose from your lips only to reflect the ugliness of your heart rather than the grace of God. Put your lips and tongue into the Father’s hands and invite Him to help you to listen more and speak more meaningfully.

Be slow to become angry. I find that when I am rested and focusing properly on the Lord and life, I am more understanding and less inclined to become angry. Sure, we live in a demanding world. But God calls us to rest. Invite God to show you any connection in your life between anger and weariness. Then, there is the focus on the Lord. Pressures and anxiety over issues in areas where I feel responsible can turn my attention from the Lord even when I am praying or reading the Bible. Frankly, I can do all the spiritual disciplines automatically while my mind is whirling on other things. Thus, my spiritual disciplines are empty and my heart is always twisted a little tighter when my spiritual exercise is rote. Such practice does not honor God or help me. What have I discovered about anger? The things that make me angry often have as much to do with what is going on in me as they have to do with what is going on around me. Yet, in my anger I almost always place the blame on someone or something outside me. How about you? Would you join me in the prayer that God will help us pace ourselves properly so that we can remain in tune with Him, with ourselves, and with our world? This process can help us act out of who we are in Christ rather than react to the ugliness in the world that attempts to rob us of our faith-instilled peace.

Last Sunday we saw four people baptized. Each of these mainland Chinese will leave Hong Kong in a few days. Pray for these new believers as they seek to share their faith with other family members and friends and as they seek to find Christians who will share the faith journey with them.

Last week one mother gave birth to a baby boy and we rejoice with mother and father in this addition to their family. This week another first-time mother gave birth to a daughter. Pray for her husband and her as they welcome this little lady to their home.

We are giving to a Home Mission Offering. We are a little over a fourth of the way to our goal. Pray for those who do mission work in Hong Kong. Pray for God’s guidance in our lives as we seek to meet this goal.

This is the last Sunday Elizabeth will lead our 11am worship service and choir. She will return to the States in June after her teaching contract is completed. Elena will complete her ministry with the piano this week and go to the US next week where she will be involved in a wedding. Benny will accompany Elizabeth later in June when they return to the US. Benny and Elena will begin a new life back in the US after the investment of 26 years of their lives in ministry in Hong Kong. Pray for God’s hand on them and God’s guidance in their lives.

Sunday night two ladies will fill a service with beautiful music. Pray for the ministry of music of these ladies in this service.

Please pray for God to continue to guide people to make the faith commitment to Jesus Christ. Pray for our church family as we look at forgiveness in the message this week. Pray for our church staff as we seek to be the people God wants in KIBC.

Thank you for your prayer support and sweet encouragement. God bless you.