Several folded hands of people praying together
Several folded hands of people praying together

United in Prayer

"You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you
cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. Pray often, for prayer
is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan
."
John Bunyan

Of all the ways we can assist persecuted Christians, prayer is the preeminent appeal. Yet the request for prayer doesn’t negate our obligation to help with practical relief and support efforts. These projects are gratefully received and indispensable for Gospel proclamation and Christian witness in hostile environments. However, without prayer, anything we provide, no matter how substantial, is inadequate.

A small container with water pouring out
A small container with water pouring out

Stronger Stuff

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,
persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

A church occupied in Great Commission work will see growth when people discover the love of the Father through Jesus, His Son. Then, fuelled by the Holy Spirit's guidance, these new followers of Jesus mature in the faith through discipleship and the application of God’s Word. Thus, the church becomes a marvellous blending of young and old, immature and mature, growing together in awe and reverence of the one true God.

Planting a tree
A man and young boy planting a tree

Fret Not (Part 5)
KEEP LOOKING UP!

"Trust in the Lord, and do good....
Turn away from evil and do good."
Psalm 37:3,27 ESV

Overcoming a fretful mindset requires that we seek the Lord's equipping to do good works in this fallen world. External situations should not determine our level of productivity in bearing the fruit of righteousness. Fretfulness doesn't bring glory to God but rather hinders us from responding as we should, namely by overcoming evil with good.

Driving
Sun shining through the clouds

Fret Not (Part 5)
KEEP LOOKING UP!

How can we live fret-free in a world full of turmoil and trouble, with a heart of love, while demonstrating true humility? Psalm 37 answers this question by coaching us to look ahead (which I covered in my previous blog), keep looking up, and stay productive.

When we look ahead, we see a day of true justice dawning just over the horizon of our present situations. With hearts and minds stayed on Christ, we anticipate the time of His glorious return and rejoice in His providential care until that day comes.

Driving
A person driving

Fret Not (Part 4)
LOOKING AHEAD

Part one of this Fret Not blog series, featuring messages based on Psalm 37 (ESV), concluded that Christians should refrain from unrighteous anger when the campaigns of the ungodly prosper. Part two showed how such fretting leads to general neglect in demonstrating love towards those who reject and oppose the righteous. The third part of the series reflected on how the Holy Spirit empowers those who exhibit Biblical meekness while, in the eyes of the world, such an attribute is considered weakness.  

Airport hallway
I am strong because I know my weaknesses

Fret Not (Part 3)
Blessed are the Meek

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Matthew 5:5 ESV

Many mistake meekness for weakness, believing that the meek are subservient and ever yielding to the antagonist. This world esteems those who rise to fight back, crush injustice and avenge wrong. The cultural hero figure it readily embraces is the Steve Rogers type (the protagonist from the Captain America movies) who transforms into the ultimate superhero to defeat evil in the world.