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All around us people are perishing. We walk among those who face eternity without the saving grace of Jesus. Here, in the Milton area, are thousands who will be lost FOREVER – when the angels come and separate those who are in Christ from those who are not.

People, real people, people we know, will end in the outer darkness where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. Can we shut our eyes?

The time is shorter today than it was yesterday. Can we sit silent? God’s word tells us “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). We know this is true – so let us be diligent.

How do we pray fervently and with urgency? Each of us have experienced a time of deep, focused, and passion-filled petition to God. When a child was in danger, when a disaster happened and our loved ones were missing. When we faced a severe trial. We know what it is to cry out with our whole heart.

Yet, honestly, we don’t do that often. We can do better, we can focus better – and our prayers can be more effective. Jesus says that our prayers can move mountains – so they can impact our community!

Fervent, passionate doesn’t need to be fancy, or even prolonged (though frequent is good.)  Romans 8:26 says that the Holy Spirit can translate wails, moans, and tears into prayer. We need to pour out our hearts to God – even though he already knows. The communion of deep prayer allows us to go past the surface and delve into the depths of the Spirit in order to meet Him at the throne – aligning our will with God’s and praying effectively for His will to be done.

Fervent, passionate prayer is often coupled with fasting prayer. Fasting is the act of abstaining from food and drink, or another type of sacrifice (many today refrain from social media, television, or other distractions) to devote time to prayer.

So, here is our challenge for January – make time to pray fervently for God to act in our community. Find a way to fast – skip a meal (or more), skip a TV program or a solitaire game, and use that time to pause amid all the busy-ness of the new year to pray. Your prayers matter!

Find a quiet place free from distraction, quiet your heart, confess/repent – accept God’s forgiveness, forgive those who have wronged you – for these are part of being in Christ and being one of the righteous whose prayers accomplish much. Then speak your desires to God. Listen with your mind, your spirit, and your heart to hear other things He would have your pray or do – for His glory.

Some things to pray for:

• Hearts to be open to Jesus
• Conviction of sin and the need for salvation
• A hunger for God’s Word
• Opportunities to share the gospel
• Lives to be changed for all eternity
• God’s truth to be shared
• Jesus to be lifted up and glorified
• Growing love for God
• Love for one’s neighbor to be a way of life in Milton

Opportunities to Pray Together

The early disciples gathered together for prayer. Jesus often went by himself to pray. His followers, how-ever, gathered together for prayer. God tells us “Where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them. The LORD’s prayer starts “OUR Father.”

Our prayer challenge for January is to fast and pray fervently for our community. With that goal in mind, here are some opportunities to gather together for prayer:

• Tuesday January 4,
  7:00 am zoom
• Thursday January 6,
  7:00 am zoom

Links will be sent in the Friday Update on December 31.

• Friday January 7,
  7:00 pm at church

And, of course, our regular Bible Study gatherings where we also take time to pray.

• Weds. January 5
  6:30 a.m. Sharla’s (Men)
  9:30 a.m. at Sanford’s (Ladies)
• Thurs. January 6
  11:00 a.m. at church (Ladies)