The Central Moment

As we pray this week for our churches, may we not forget that the church does not exist for itself. We are here as God’s people to be a transforming influence in our world and to lead people to a life-transforming relationship with Jesus. May we never forget the priority of evangelism and missions. Like salt and light, we are here to represent Jesus to our world.

Every generation has a responsibility to the generation that follows them. The Apostle Paul told Timothy to not let anyone look down on him because he was young. May the church not do that to the youth and young adults in our church families. May, instead, God put his Spirit on them and raise them up.

What would it be like to be a part of a community of faith where people constantly covered each other in prayer? That is the ideal that Paul put in front of the Ephesian church when he called them to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests….and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18) Let’s do that today in this, our third week of prayer.

Pastors are gifts from God, yet they stand in great need of prayer. Amid the complexities of the role and the spiritual warfare that it attracts, let’s lift our pastors and church staff members up in prayer. Let’s also pray for our group leaders, volunteer class teachers and the faithful people who keep showing up week by week to serve.

In this our third week of prayer we focus on our churches and ministries. It’s easy to claim a relationship with Jesus but be cynical about the organized church. Yet we need the church--with all its flaws--in order to stretch us, mature us, and teach us to love people who are different from us. It was Jesus himself who said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Today marks the 1000th installment of The Central Moment. Thank you to all of you who have daily joined in for a few moments around God’s Word and prayer over the past three and a half years. When our month of prayer is over in two weeks, we will begin reposting the “Through the Bible in a Year” Central Moments from 2021, and will be sharing more details about that in the coming days.  ///  This, however, is also Day 5 of our second week of prayer. If you have brothers or sisters who are still alive, let’s pray for them with faith today!

Let’s focus today on praying for our siblings. Focus on Scripture and stand on God’s promises for them. If they are hurting, stand with them spiritually. If they are doing well, pray that their hearts do not drift from the Lord as so often happens during the easy seasons of life. And if they are away from the Lord, claim their lives for Jesus and intercede for their salvation.

If you’re blessed enough to have parents who have prayed over your life, why not return the blessing? And if your parents are not believers, they are blessed to have you praying for them specifically and regularly. They all need strength, wisdom, endurance, and protection just as much as we do!

Whether you have children of your own, or nieces and nephews in your extended family, those children, teenagers, and young adults need your prayers. Pray blessings over their lives, protection from the evil one, and hearts to know and love Jesus.

As we begin Week 2 of our 28 day journey in prayer we now focus on our family and friends. Even if you do not have a spouse, today’s reflection underscores the importance of having prayer partners in our lives, no matter who they are. We are stronger when we pray together!