PRAY YOUR WAY TO ACCEPTANCE

May 24, 2020

On March 4, 1865 Lincoln stood outside the Capitol Building before a huge crowd in Washington for his Second Inaugural Address.  It had rained all day but as he spoke the sun broke through the clouds.  Our nation was in the midst of a war that cost more American lives than any other.  In the speech Lincoln said concerning the warring sides:

Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God.  The prayers of both could not be answered – that of neither has been answered fully.  The Almighty has his own purposes.  Fervently do we pray that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away, but if God wills that every drop of blood drawn with the lash [of slavery] shall be paid by another drawn with the sword so it still must be said, “The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

Thus Lincoln, like David whom he quoted, expressed the need to find acceptance of God’s will in prayer.  Sunday I’m preaching on “Pray Your Way to Acceptance” from Mark 14:32-42 where Jesus experiences the ultimate moment of acceptance of the Father’s will.  May we learn during this coronavirus crisis to find acceptance of God’s will in prayer.  We see in this passage the need to 1) “Get Some Prayer Companions” (verses 32-34), 2) “Pray Honestly” (verses 35-39) and 3) “Accept God’s Will” (verses 40-42).  Through prayer much is accomplished but also God is able to move in our hearts to give us peace in a stormy sea.

I pray for many of you every day, and I appreciate your prayers.  May God continue to shower us with his peace as we nestle in his loving arms through prayer!

This Memorial Day we pray for those who have lost loved ones during our nation’s conflicts, and we thank God for those who have provided the ultimate sacrifice.  Meanwhile, may we be living sacrifices as we give ourselves to God in prayer, and trust in his great grace.

Love,

Jim Meek           

We will livestream our on campus events.  Go to www.facebook.com/elcaminobaptistchurch/live/ at 6:30 for our Bible study: “Commit ACTS with Facts” on Wednesdays. If you miss it live you can find it later on Facebook and on our website at https://www.elcaminobaptist.org/adults.  Sunday at 9:00 a.m. you can do the same thing to get our Adult Bible Study on Romans.  Then at 10:30 a.m. you can do the same thing to get our worship service on Facebook or later as a recording at https://www.elcaminobaptist.org/sermons.  Also, these events will be available through DVD.  Just call the church office.  Finally, sermons can be heard on 710 AM and 105.7 FM Saturdays at 11:30 a.m., Sundays at 6:00 p.m., Mondays at 5:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. 

El Camino Baptist Church

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