Keep Your Sails Up

Here is a little bit of free advice from a pastor who has been “at sea” for some time. One of the great advantages to maintaining a weekly Prayer Meeting is that you will catch the Wind when it blows. 

Just this past week, two of our pastors were down and out with sickness. While we were able to get through our morning duties, prudence suggested we recuperate in the evening. That left the Prayer Meeting to the last man standing. I might say that, at this point in our church’s life, even if all the pastors were out of commission, I am sure the Prayer Meeting would stand. We have learned how to pray in some measure. Praise God.

But it seems like this Prayer Meeting was one of those where the Lord particularly blessed. I have always said that the single most difficult area of church life to evaluate is her corporate prayer. How can we? Who are we to judge whether or not the Lord is listening, acting, enjoying, and responding to our prayers? There is a sense where only the Great Day will reveal that. But, for as much as we can tell, it seemed like the Wind blew on Sunday night. 

“The wind blows where it wishes…” To this we might add, it also blows when it wishes. And this is my point. 

Because we have a regular Prayer Meeting, our sails were up when the wind blew. Praise God. 

The days of calm waters come when we have to break out the oars and row hard to make any seeming progress. God has His purposes in this as well. But, even then, keep your sails up! You never know when the Wind will blow and, oh, the joy of sailing along with the Spirit’s help as we petition the throne of our King!