American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 15
ARC Prayer Meeting
This coming Friday during this holiest of weeks on the Christian calendar is what we call “Good Friday.” It is a strange term since it was the day our Lord endured a kangaroo court, was unjustly condemned, mock and scourged, and taken away to be crucified on a cruel cross. Can anything “good” come out of Nazareth?
In typical Kingdom fashion what was terribly bad for our Lord became a tremendous goodness for the souls who repent, believe, and receive the power of the Holy Ghost to transform their lives.
Our Lord, the God/man, was committed to a life of prayer, service, and obedience to the Father who sent Him. Even on the cross as our sin debt was being paid, He quoted Scripture and prayed. He cried out to His Father.
Here are the last three recorded prayers in Scripture on the cross: "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me" (Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34)? "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
The Suffering Servant, who is our Triumphant Messiah, even in His death, set the standard and provided an example for His people to follow.
I know personally how difficult it can be when one is hurting, suffering, and in despair to shut down the depression factory and pray. But brethren, pray we must. Sometimes, we just have to encourage ourselves in the Lord, especially, when there is no circumstance or person we can lean on, pour out our hearts, and vent our sorrows seeking sweet release.
At the American Reformation Church, it is this consistent prayer life we are seeking to nurture amongst the saints we care for in service to the Lord. Through the good, bad, and ugly, through trial and error, and through glorious victories, we are a praying people. We pray for world mission, our nation, the church, our church, and our personal needs. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:3).
