Dear Church Family,

If we’re being honest, the Christian life seems to be backwards sometimes, does it not? Like when Jesus says that if we will humble ourselves, we will be exalted (Matthew 23:12). Or what about the last being first and the first being last (Matthew 20:16)? Then there is the example of the Macedonians who were over-the-top generous in the midst of their extreme poverty (II Corinthians 8:1-5). And the ultimate is Jesus’s declaration that “he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25). In each of these cases, there are 2 things that simply don’t go together – and yet they do … at least in Christ they do.

There’s another one. It’s hard to fathom. And even harder to reconcile. Some people – some Christians – live several decades and never attain to it. In fact, I struggle with it too. Constantly.

Come prayer time in most church circles, whether it’s Sunday School, prayer meetings, whatever, we have a familiar playbook. We take prayer requests, and if we’re feeling especially spiritual, we add on praise reports. Both of these categories have their own distinctives, right?

Prayer requests usually cover physical problems that people are having. The sickness or disease, the accident, the treatments, etc. Throw in those who are in sorrow over the loss of a loved one. Sadly, it’s much more rare for us to really open up about our loneliness, doubts, struggles, relationships, finances, and temptations, but when we’re in a group that affords such openness, it’s a real blessing. But the point is, our prayer requests are a list of the bad things happening to us and others at the time.

The praise reports are a welcomed break from the struggles list. During this (often too brief) time we talk about all the things that God has given us, all the blessings, all the good things that are going on. Things that we’re thankful for. Things that make us smile.

But what if the lines between prayer requests and praise reports were blurred? What if they weren’t distinct at all? Well guess what – in Christ, our prayer requests become praise reports. And I don’t mean after God answers the prayer requests. I mean WHILE they’re still prayer requests.

Hear the words of Habakkuk 3:17-18:

Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

No mention of future blessing or deliverance. No naming and claiming God’s abundance. Nope. Just transferring prayer requests into the praise report column. Backwards. And James captured the same backward idea when he said, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (1:2). Trials ---- & Joy. See? Backwards.

And yet, that’s as characteristic of the Christian life as living even when we die. And really, the source is the same too: faith that Christ is enough. Even if we don’t get all we want, even if God does not answer our prayers the way we would like, even if we continue to go without. God is still enough. And that’s reason enough to praise Him at all times.

See you Sunday!
Pastor Lane