25 September 2006

To: Prayer Partners

From: Pastor Lucenay

One of the challenges we face in living out the Christian life is knowing what to say when. When God called Moses to speak for Him Moses said Please, Lord, I have never been a skilled speaker. Even now, after talking to you, I cannot speak well. I speak slowly and can’t find the best words (Exodus 4:10, New Century Version). Like Moses we all feel inadequate more often than we might like to admit.

Lloyd John Ogilvie once wrote our only task is to open our minds in calm expectation of wisdom beyond our own capacity. We were never meant to be adequate on our own. It is when we think we are adequate that we get into trouble. A Christian is not one who works for the Lord but one in whom and through whom the Lord works. We are not to speak for God but to yield our tongues to express the thoughts the Lord has implanted.

To put balance to Ogilvie’s insights we do well to read God’s Word regularly and seek to grow in our relationships with God and people. When I find myself seeking the right response to a particular issue, and I often find myself seeking such, I have found it good to ask God to help me see things from His perspective, hear the hearts of those involved, and respond with the words He would have me say. The prayer for God’s guidance with my words is not a prayer that God will bless whatever I happen to feel like saying. Rather, it is a prayer that God will guide me to the words that will connect the heart of God with the heart of the issue before me. To be sure, sometimes my mouth runs in front of my prayers and I say the wrong thing. And, more often than I would like to admit, I say unnecessary things. However, the learning the discipline of praying before and during speaking is an ongoing process.

Let’s ask God to nudge our hearts as we are in conversations, reminding us to share this time with Him as well. We may need to pray that God will help us listen more and refrain from giving air to whatever comes through our minds. We may need to pray that God will help us speak when we would rather hide in silence. And we do need to pray that God will guide us to speak words that build up and help out rather than words that cut down or hurt.

One of the ways Jesus helped people was through questions. Rather, than answer every question that came His way, He often asked questions. Maybe today’s prayer is the request that God will guide us to ask those who seek our help “what do you think” before sharing our observations. After all the people sharing their issues have spent more time trying to work through their issues than we have.

All God wanted Moses to do what take the words He gave him and deliver them. Before going into difficult conversations we would do well to seek the words God would want us to share. Such seeking is rarely found as we speak. Instead, it is rewarded as we read relevant passages in God’s Word and think through the situation we expect to encounter while asking God to guide our thought process.

Today as I write this prayer letter I can hear one of the praise and worship teams at practice. Their hard work reminds me of the many volunteer hours invested in the ministry of KIBC. Join me in thanking God for our teachers, musicians, ushers, committee members, deacons, helpers, and ministry assistants. Think of two or three people you know who give of themselves to the Lord’s work. Ask God to quiet the troubles that may abide in their hearts with His peace and to fill them to overflowing with His joy. Ask for God to meet whatever weakness they have with His strength.

Last week our staff met to lay plans for 2007. As we discussed the physical and spiritual needs of our church we quickly recognized some of the ways our physical limitations prevent us from addressing some of the spiritual needs we face. Let us pray together for God’s guidance as we seek space to carry out the ministry God has assigned to us. One place of thanksgiving regarding space comes at the openness HKBU has given to us with regard to the use of a class at Wai Hang Sports Centre (soon our university class will meet in a classroom there according to agreements made last week).

We always have many people we want to lift to the Lord in prayer.

Personal: people facing personal difficulties; people struggling in relationships whether it be marriage, parenting, caring for parents, work or school related, misunderstandings between friends; employment needs; proper papers from the government (visas, recognition as refugees, etc.);

Church: we thank God for the wonderful crowds; we pray for God’s spirit to continue to move through our staff members and God’s protection on them; we invite God to open gospel doors as we seek to share the gospel with inquirers; we ask God to help the new ministries (such as the Mosaic student ministries) to reach people for Christ; we pray for Phil, Angie, and Maik as they seek to lead specific ministries; we ask God to speak to and through the pastor and to give the pastor vision to challenge our people according to God’s guidance.

Kindergarten: for the leadership and witness of the kindergarten and for the teachers and administration of KBCK.

Thank you for your prayers. May God bless and guide you.