August 6, 2023 – CountUp

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday August 06TH 2023, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

I observe and celebrate a bunch of personal life-changing anniversaries during the month of August. But definitely – the most life-changing event of them all – occurred around the 20TH of August of 2006 when my salvation in Jesus Christ began. If it weren’t for that miracle from Heaven – I wouldn’t be here today, and you wouldn’t be reading this blog today. I probably wouldn’t be alive today. That’s right. For 17 years I’ve believed and followed a living and loving God who guides and directs me with each new day.

This morning I’m leading my church family in Communion. It was 7 years ago this weekend that I did so for the very first time for my current church family. For this morning’s Communion I’ll be explaining to my brothers and sisters why we observe and celebrate Communion at the start of every month.

And now here on #SundayScripture it’s the continuation of the refresh, renew, and reboot of my sermon on “Pray & Believe” – originally preached on Sunday June 16TH 2019. Here’s Part 3:

[CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK]

You know when I was a young’un on this journey I thought of praying as being very intimidating. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to say it. But then when I was asked to pray, and I improvised, and I did it, and I kept on doing it – it became less intimidating.

You know which # 1 best-selling “how-to” book I used to teach me how to pray ? The Bible. God’s Word teaches us how to pray.

The Bible says “keep on praying.” That’s a short 3-word verse in First Thessalonians Chapter 5. That’s actually the New Living Translation First Edition. That verse was updated for the Second Edition from “keep on praying” to “never stop praying”. Now it doesn’t mean to pray with every single breath and every waking moment. It means don’t give up when troubles come your way. Pray.

I learned this verse early on as a baby Christian. It helped me a lot:

Don’t worry about anything. Instead – pray about (what’s that next word ?) everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. (Philippians 4:6)

I’ve heard it said that worry is a conversation you have with yourself about things you can’t change. But prayer is a conversation you have with God about things He can change.

When I pray – almost every sentence has the words “Thank You” in it. I thank God for the current situation. I thank the Lord for what He’s already done. I thank Him for what He’s going to do.

I like Romans 12:12 – Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and (do what ?) keep on praying.

You see when we rejoice in our confident hope – when we trust in Christ – we can be patient in times of trouble. Praying to God shows God that we truly trust in Him. Praying to God from the valleys confirms to Him that we believe that He is in control, and that He is right there with us – leading us out of the valley.

[TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK]

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.