Minister's letter

Dear Friends,

Over the last couple of years or so I have found tremendous help and encouragement from the prayers of a fellow minister called Scotty Smith, that a friend has sent me on a regular basis. The format of these prayers is generally the same: a verse or two of Scripture is quoted and the prayer follows, which has clearly been prompted and directed by the verses, as well as a deep understanding of the gospel. I thought I might take the opportunity to share a few examples.

Firstly, two from around New Year time – one for the church community, prompted by 1 Peter 1.1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Gracious Father, as the New Year is just underway, we praise you for the gift of community – for all its privileges and joys, challenges and complexities. We’re an elect people, not an elite people – a chosen people, not a choice people, and as such we’ll need all the grace you will give us to live and love to your glory this year. Bring much fame to yourself as you transform us and liberate us for your redeeming purposes.

May this be a year in which we re-engage with our corporate calling as your covenant people. Unless we are intentional about this, the sin in our hearts and the values of our culture will propel us even faster into a life of alienation and isolation, selfishness and cynicism. We’re not just individually your beloved sons and daughters; we’re your treasured family – brothers and sisters in Christ, destined for a life of perfect relationships in the new heaven and new earth. When life in the Body of Christ today seems crazy and pointless, may a vision of the

people we will be one Day give us humility and patience in this day.

You chose us by your foreknowledge, redeemed us by your Son, and set us apart by your Spirit. You’ve called us to demonstrate the reconciling and redeeming power of the gospel in cities and among the nations of the world. Indeed, you’ve called us to live as strangers in this world, not as strange people. If there’s to be anything offensive about us this year, may it primarily be the gospel of your grace .....

The second, more personal and individual in its scope and from Colossians 3.1-4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears,

then you also will appear with him in glory.

Dear Lord Jesus, as someone born with a flawed sense of direction and a broken internal compass, I praise you for modern technology especially for a phone with a GPS built in. Though not perfectly, that little digital voice usually gets me where I want to go.

But with much more confidence and far greater gratitude, born out of a much deeper need, I praise you this morning for the gift of the Bible – the means by which your voice directs my wandering heart to its true destination – which is you, Lord Jesus. You are my destination and delight, my GPS and my heart’s home, where I want to go and the only means of getting there. I reset my attention and affection on you this morning. May this be the constant theme of this whole new year. May your voice be loud and clear – may it drown out every other voice seeking to direct my life .....

Here’s one when we’re tempted to be judgemental and critical, prompted by some words of Paul’s to the Christians in Rome Romans 2:1-4 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realising that God's kindness leads you towards repentance?

Heavenly Father, much more than greater discipline and much more than increased knowledge, I need your Spirit’s work in my heart. This is just one more Scripture reminding me of how much I need the gospel. The call to love others as Jesus loves me keeps driving me to you for more grace and for the power of the gospel. I readily acknowledge that I cannot change myself. 

Meditating on this passage has convicted me about being way too selective in my love for broken people. I’m a selective lover. I’m not an equal opportunity dispenser of your compassion. It’s not difficult for me to shower the riches of your kindness, tolerance, and patience on people whose sins and struggles are like mine. But I’m self-righteous and judgmental toward people who deal with brokenness and temptations different than mine. Though understandable, it’s not excusable. Have mercy on me, for the extending of your mercy through me. No one has appointed me to be judge and jury. I’m not the boss or king of anybody. Forgive me when I take up a scorecard of criticism rather than a towel of servanthood.

Thank you for being such a kind and patient God. May your non-stop kindness lead me repent of my sin more quickly and more deeply ....

Lastly here’s one when praying is a struggle, prompted by Romans 8:26-28 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. And we know that in all things God works for thegood of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Dear Father, this is one of those days when I could create a long prayer list and methodically go through it, but I’m not sure I would really be praying. I could go through the motions, but to be quite honest, it would be more ritual than reality—more about me, than the people and situations I’d bring before you. I’m feeling distracted this morning, scattered and not very focused at all. 

It’s one of those days I’m glad the gospel is much more about your grasp of me than my grip on you. It’s one of those days I’m grateful your delight in me is not contingent upon my delight in you. It’s one of those days I’m very thankful for the prayer ministry of the Holy Spirit. Gracious Father, I have no problem or reluctance in acknowledging my weakness

this morning. In fact it’s freeing to know your Spirit doesn’t abandon us when we’re weak, but helps us in our weakness. Just as Jesus constantly prays for us, the Holy Spirit faithfully prays in us through “wordless groans.” Though I don’t understand everything that means, I do get the part about you searching our hearts and knowing the mind of the Spirit, and that brings me incredible comfort today.

No one knows our hearts better than you, Father. And you search our hearts to save us, not shame us; to deliver us, not demean us; to free us, not frown upon us; to change us, not chide us. You know my past and future, my fears and my longings, my struggles with sin and my standing in grace. What a glorious and gracious God you are! .......

I hope these are of some encouragement. If you would you like to find more of Scotty’s prayers you can do so on the Gospel Coalition website where they are regularly posted. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/ 

Yours in the fellowship of prayer,