Church
OPENING PRAYER:
Jesus thank you for your church. Thank you for a body of believers I can turn to in times of need.
READ:
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will rise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.“ James 5:14-16
REFLECT:
There was a time in my marriage where my husband I really struggled. We were newly married and unprepared to face what life as a married couple is really like. Thinking back to this time brings back so much hurt and regret. My biggest regret is that I had so much shame about what we were going through that I did not tell anyone how badly I was hurting. I did not let anyone in. We were involved in church, but I was not closely connected with any other couples or women I was comfortable sharing my struggles with. We dealt with our marriage problems alone. Eventually, we sought counseling and healed our marriage. Having others to lean on during this time would have done so much to help with my emotional and spiritual health.
We are called the body of Christ. We are all, as believers, a part of the body. (1 Cor 12: 27). We are not meant to worship God alone. He has called us to his church. This means that in good times and bad, we have a group of people that we can turn to for help. First, we should turn to God and then we should turn to his church. This could mean turning to your home team or seeking out the advice of a trusted mentor or church friend. Turning to the church could mean meeting with a pastor to discuss what is going on in your life or joining a support group offered by the church. There are so many ways that the church collectively, and those individually in the church, can support one another. We can persevere in difficulty through the ministry of the church today.
APPLY:
Is there an area of difficulty in your life? First of all, turn to God. Ask him to guide you to wise counsel. Second, find a ministry or person in the church and let them support you. As followers of Christ, we are never alone. Let the church walk beside you.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Jesus, thank you for never leaving me alone. You are always with me. You have also provided others who I can share my burdens and troubles with. Give me bravery and courage as I reach out to others.
WORSHIP: