Dear Praying Friends,
Rachel and I appreciate your persistence in prayer for our prodigals and for revival among us. We sincerely thank you! The value of persistence has been impressed upon me lately through three stories that I have been reading.
The first one is the Biblical account of Caleb and his words at age eighty-five. He said, “I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming” (Jos 14:11). This strength was obviously a God-thing, but it was more than mere physical strength that enabled him to do what God wanted. According to the divine commentary, from the time Caleb got his first sight of the beautiful Canaan-land with its lush grape vines, and wondrous possibilities over forty years earlier, to this moment, he “wholly followed the LORD” (Jos 14:8). He was persistent in his quest to do the right thing because he loved the LORD his God.
The second story is a parable given by Jesus about a widow woman who was treated unjustly and persisted in seeking for help from a judge who had no reverence for God nor compassion for the people he judged. The widow just kept coming, and coming, and coming. She didn’t give up and she didn’t get discouraged. Finally, just to get her off his back, he granted her request. Now we can be sure that the character of our God is nothing like this wicked judge, but the comparison is revealed in these questions, “Will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?” (Lk 18:7). Jesus told this story for the reason that we should ALWAYS pray and not lose heart. Our loving, tender, compassionate Father will do what’s best for each of us; please keep praying!
The last story is an autobiography by Lecrae Devaunghn Moore, called UN-ASHAMED. It is a heart-wrenching and touching account of an insecure boy who grew up in urban society without a father in his life. The pain of abuse, the pursuit of pleasures, the emptiness of life, the depression of soul, and ultimately the journey of redemption, make for a very gripping read. He said, “Hip Hop gave me hope that even though I felt alone, I wasn’t. It reminded me that there is often a difference in the value people ascribe to you and your actual worth. It told me that my pain was valid.” Thankfully, God found him, saved him, and put His stamp upon him. Through mistakes and hardship, Lecrae learned how precious he really was and through his musical abilities in playing rap, he has been able to give expression to the sad, yet compelling course of his life. Here are a few lines of one such song:
Just fight a little longer my friend
It's all worth it in the end
But when you got nobody to turn to
Just hold on, and I'll find you
I'll find you
I'll find you
Just hold on, and I'll find you
I'm hanging on by a thread
And all I'm clinging to is prayers
And every breath is like a battle
I feel like I ain't come prepared
And death's knockin' on the front door
Pain's creepin' through the back
Fear's crawlin' through the windows
Waiting for em' to attack
They say "Don't get bitter, get better”
I'm working on switching them letters
But tell God I'mma need a whole lotta hope keeping it together
I'm smilin' in everyone's face
I'm cryin' whenever they leave the room
They don't know the battle I face
They don't understand what I'm going through
The world tryna play with my soul
I'm just tryna find where to go
I'm tryna remember the way
I'm tryna get back to my home
But, I can't do this on my own
That's why I'm just trusting in you
Cuz' I don't know where else to go
And, I don't know what else to do
Just fight a little longer my friend
It's all worth it in the end
But, when you've got nobody to turn to
Just hold on, and I'll find you.
One of the significant lessons I learned from the book is the importance of “not letting go” of God in the most desperate of life’s experiences. And even when our fingers are numb and we’re not even sure if we are holding on or not, God is holding us. He has a purpose and a plan for each of us, and through it all, He will take care of us.
Wherever you are in your journey today, keep your eyes on Jesus and don’t give up!
We love you,
Bryan and Rachel
