Greater things are yet to come...be patient

This week's memory verse:

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

I am here to tell you that prayer works! It is our way to communicate with God, telling him of our needs and desires, and if those needs and desires are in line with God's will, those prayers will be answered. Prayers and the prayers of others during a difficult time also helps us feel comforted and supported. We pray for our needs, the needs of our friends and family...but I think many times we get so concerned about those needs, we forget to pray for our cities, our country and the world. We might pray for peace on earth, but what if we began in our own cities?

A year or so ago, I sang in a community unity service. Many churches from all over Muskingum county gathered together, and one thing that touched me the most was how we prayed for our cities...Zanesville, New Concord, Dresden, Roseville, Duncan Falls and many others in our county.

Jeremiah 29:7 - "Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

We sang a song with the following lyrics:

"You're the God of this City

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of this nation

You are
You're the Light in this darkness

You're the Hope to the hopeless

You're the Peace to the restless

You are

There is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in this City

Greater thing have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in this City"

Prayer, and songs of prayer, give us hope that God is listening and will bring peace to our city. The problem is that we expect God to do something NOW! We want peace in our city, but we want it in our timeline. God has a different timeline, and has since the beginning of time. We need to be patient with God.

Patience means waiting. We are not good at waiting. Many times, we pray and pray for something to happen...for peace in our cities and communities, for example. When we don't see that peace right away, we think God's not listening and we try to take control of the situation ourselves.

My prayer for all of us: let every day be a new day in learning to have patience. Let us not grow weary in prayer and in doing God's will. If we take our concerns to God, whether they be about our personal lives or about our cities, let us have faith that God is listening and will answer those prayers. Give us peace as we wait on the greater things that are yet to come.