Weekly Devotional Message from David Jones

April 28, 2006

Dear WCPC family:

I believe in the power of prayer.  I’ve seen in the past how God has used the prayers of His people to accomplish His will. I have seen in my own life how God has used my prayers to change me. 

God does answer prayer. We would like for God to immediately answer our prayers. We are always in a hurry. God never is. Often it takes years before God’s answer to our prayers can be seen. I can show you a number of my journal entries from my seminary days. My journal entries are prayers. I had some pretty big requests for God. It was years before those prayers were answered. And though I’m grateful for God’s response, I’m also grateful for the way those years of praying and waiting shaped and changed me.

I know some people who have been praying for the same thing for years. I believe, in God’s time, if what they are seeking is God’s will, He will answer. But in the in-between time, God isn’t silent, just not as obvious, as slowly He shapes and changes us, and those around us. Whatever you are praying for, keep praying, even if it seems that God is slow in answering. Someone has said that God’s answers to prayer are one of three things: Yes, No, Not Yet. Trust Him. 

Let me suggest a few items to include in your prayer time concerning the life of WCPC:  

1. Pray for this year’s Confirmation Class. They will be publicly received this Sunday as they profess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

2. Pray for our new officers who will be installed and/or ordained on May 21^st.

3. Pray for the Youth Director Search Committee as they seek to discern God’s will.

4. Pray for the staff of this congregation, for the Session and Diaconate.

5. Pray for those listed in the Life of the Church each Sunday. Make a habit of praying for each person listed during the week.

6. Pick up a copy of the WCPC directory and start praying through the membership.

7. Pray for our continuing growth in discipleship, both the individual members of WCPC and the entire congregation.

8. Pray for those in our community who don’t have a church home and don’t understand yet the depth of God’s love for them.

9. Pray for the two upcoming Forums organized by the Long Range Planning Committee as they seek to help us discern God’s future for this growing community of disciples.

I look forward to seeing all of you on Sunday. My message at 8:30am will be “What So Great About Being a Christian?”  At 11:00am the six members of this year’s Confirmation Class will share their faith publicly for the first time. At both services, we will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

Also, don’t forget the spiritual concert planned for Sunday evening at 7:30pm—“Feel the Spirit.”  It’s part of our yearlong anniversary celebration!

Blessings,

David Jones