From guest writer, Kimy Brennan.
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
When I was growing up, Instant Noodles were a staple in my diet. It was so easy to make, took little to no time, and filled me up. A big plus was that it tasted like chicken, and I loved chicken. However, over the years I began to grow tired of it. Yes, I got my food quickly but it wasn’t as satisfying as it once was. It also started to make me sick because the ingredients weren’t the best. My body was slowly telling me, “NO! MORE! INSTANT! NOODLES!”
Recently, I woke up with this thought in my head... “Instant or Gradual. Which do you prefer?” It feels almost obvious for us to say emphatically, “Instant!” But I remembered the idea of instant noodles and was sick at the thought. I asked God what he meant by asking me which I preferred.
It became clear to me that I was becoming changed by my faith in Him. I’ve always prayed for the “Instant Answer”. Much like Instant Noodles, it’s quick and easy. But in the same way, it lacks substance. You know what I mean, right? You pray that God would tell you what direction to take in life: RIGHT AWAY. You pray that he gives you what you request: RIGHT AWAY. And while we know that God is not a genie, we still kind of hope that he operates this way.
So what does it look like to pray without hoping for an instant answer? What does it mean to pray knowing God will gradually answer?
It means we must engage our faith. What would our relationship with God be like if we didn’t ever need our faith? If we never needed to believe God would do something, but instead just saw it happen right before our eyes, would we really need to rely on Him? Would we really even need to know him?
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes about awaiting the new body. This is a hope that believers have as they await heaven. Even though we know about the new body we’ll receive in heaven, it doesn’t come instantly upon our knowledge of it. We must wait, having faith that God will do what he said he will do. It is similar with our prayers: we must live by our faith in God, not just what we can see happening right before us. We know he will answer our prayers and hears us, even if it’s not right at this moment.
God can give you an answer right on the spot, if he really wants to. But what a beautiful thing to rely on our God who never lets us down & invites us into the journey of walking by FAITH rather than by sight.
Today, would you pray with the confidence that God hears you and will answer your prayers when the time is right. Just because you don’t hear or see an answer immediately does not mean he isn’t working. Help us to stretch our faith as we trust in you, Lord.
-Kimy Brennan,
Youth Ministry Director
Pastoral Prayer Requests
1. Pray for wisdom as we continue to navigate the continually changing policies of our State, County, and City. May we respond with courage, love, and respect for all.
2. Pray for ongoing opportunities to partner with churches, take on church planters, send leaders out, all for the continual preaching of the gospel. May we continue to be a church that reaches, teaches, mends, and sends!
3. Give thanks with us for an amazing first half of the year filled with great ministry opportunities despite the most difficult season in recent history. Let us be reminded that God is still at work, he never stops bringing his kingdom to earth. Thank you for all that have partnered financially with this church--you will be receiving a mid-year report in the mail in the coming days.
All Church Prayer Requests
- Lottie Mayfield | I have a praise report--I am now back home from a long journey from a rehab center to the hospital suffering from COVID back to the rehab center and now home! I survived COVID at 87 years old and almost died. Praise God for all the prayers, God healed me and used me to reach many people. Praise God!
- Cindie Espinoza | My granddaughter Alina, is having surgery next Weds, the 15th. She is having 2 tumors removed (she had 1 removed 10 years ago). Please pray that there is no cancer. Please also for her anxiety, which is already high due to these times. She is not a believer so please pray with me that God will use this to bring her closer to Him.
- Paul Turner | Please pray for me and my family in our financial situations and I make a safe trip from my home in Sun Valley California to Lakewood California to make some financial transactions with my sister at a bank there on Friday that I have a safe trip going there and coming back!
- Patricia Gardea | Please continue to pray for my adult children and their families, Joshua, Julianna, Tatianna, and Jovanna. The prayer for my adult children and their families is a SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTER with the LIVING GOD, that they would SURRENDER their lives to HIM and ONLY HIM. In JESUS’S NAME AMEN!!! Also, my friend Claudia lost her husband suddenly, it has been around two months, please lift her and her two sons (adult) in prayer, her pain it's even greater since her family/friends can not be by their side. Holy Spirit SURROUND HER AND HER CHILDREN, in Jesus’s name, AMEN!!
- Julie Gobert | Prayers for Jayda my granddaughter who came home last month after almost a year of treatment for leukemia at Cooks children's hospital and Ronald McDonald House in Fort Worth. This has also been difficult for my son Justin and his wife Kaleena please pray for them. Keep them in prayer she has 2 more years of treatment.
- Pauline Giel | Please pray for Celebrate Recovery Ministry, the leaders and all who attend
- James (Jim) McPharlin | I had gallbladder surgery Monday 7/13, pray for my healing.
- Keith Yamamoto | I am having triple bypass surgery this or next week. Pray it goes well for me!
- Joel Silva | Continued prayers for my cousin Charlie who is on ECMO treatment from COVID. He is otherwise a healthy young man & yet this virus is killing him.
- Patricia Gardea | My friend Miriam’s husband had a heart attack (a very young man) his name is Tony and it's at the hospital. Please lift up the WHOLE FAMILY they have two teenagers. Thank you, and God bless US ALL.
- Frank Solano | To help uplift depression and anxiety.
