Where to Begin

By Lars Passic

This Sunday, Interim Pastor Steve McCoy preached on “how to pray up a storm.” He left us with three reminders for when we pray:

• Pray earnestly
  • With your heart
  • “Lord, this is what I ask you to do.”
• Pray expectantly
  • “Lord, I believe you’re going to answer.”
• Pray effectively
  • According to God’s will

Earlier this week, I told someone how we have been searching for a pastor during the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic, and these two realities have put an immense pressure on the people of Elim. Pastor Steve’s sermon reminds us of how important it is to pray earnestly, with our heart.

Right now, my heart is tired, confused, broken, and overwhelmed. There is so much anger, need, and hurt in the world. I don’t even know where to begin.

I am encouraged by Romans 8:26-27:

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

God, you know the pain that we have gone through in the last few years. You know our heartbreak more than anyone. God, in Your Word you tell us that You have given us Your Spirit who knows what we need to pray for and prays for us. Please hear our prayer when we do not know where to begin. Please meet us where we are right now, heal our hearts, and forgive us for hurting each other. Thank you so much for being with us.

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