A Prayer

Psalm 86:11

Give (us) an undivided heart that (we) may fear your name

Celebration, like other Believers around our nation and the world, is in the midst of 21 Days of continual prayer for 2019.  During my time of praying this morning, the Lord inspired a specific prayer in me based on a portion of Psalm 86:11. I share it with you now in the hope that it will inspire, convict, be prayed by your lips, and be used however else the Spirit would desire.

Father,
We confess that our hearts are divided:
     -Our lips sing praises in worship and then speak lies only hours later
     -Our feet walk on your path one day and then jump to a worldly path the next day
     -Our eyes look to You and then look away
     -Our hearts are filled with Your goodness and then they go back to wandering
     -Our ears hear you Calling and then we get distracted by the noises of the world
     -Our hands do Your work one day and then destructive work the next day
     -Our minds are focused on Your Word and then the silliest thought can dethrone it

Father,
You see divided hearts and desire to make them undivided.  Who is like you, O Lord? Your goodness, forgiveness, and love bring life and hope forever.

Your mercies are new every morning.
Your gifts are good.
Your patience brings healing to the most divided heart.
Your invitation to fear your name is an act of grace and security.

So...
Give me an undivided heart.
Give Celebration an undivided heart.
Give the Church of Richmond an undivided heart.
Give the Bride of Christ an undivided heart.

That we might fear, lift up, honor, and glorify Your Name.

Ex nihilo,


R.J. Rhoden

The Hour Is Near

What is “The Hour?”

It’s a moment of extreme significance.

It’s a “burn the ships” moment.

It’s a moment where the seen and unseen works of God suddenly converge.

It’s a moment that changes everything.

Jesus declared to His disciples in Matthew 26:45, just hours before His death, “...Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” 

Prior to this declaration, Jesus prepared for His Hour in four specific ways:  place, people, passion, and prayer.

Place is any location you set apart for God.  It could be a prayer room or under a tree; it could be a sanctuary or a prison cell; it could be a commute or a comfortable recliner.  For Jesus, it was Gethsemane.  Place is important because it is the backdrop of your preparation.

People are your community.  For Jesus, it was His disciples. You were created for community not isolation.  Community is important, but it is not perfect (can I get an Amen?).  People will let you down (can I get a louder Amen?).  Jesus’ disciples fell asleep when they were supposed to be keeping watch (v40). Never let the actions of a few permanently taint how you value community.

Passion is an inner stirring that produces motivation.  Jesus’ soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death (v38).”  You will not fully prepare for Your Hour if you are not passionate about the Will of God.  When was the last time you desired God’s Will so much that you were literally overwhelmed with an aching passion?

Prayer is conversation with God.  Prayer should be lots of listening and little talking. If you listen first and talk second, your heartfelt prayers will ultimately align you with the Father’s heart.  If you reverse the order, you run the risk of drifting away from the Father’s heart.  Jesus concluded His time of prayer by saying to the Father, “...may your Will be done (v42).”

So is this a blog about the Hour of your death?  Not at all!  Your Hour, my Hour, a stranger’s Hour, a friend’s Hour, a family member’s Hour, or Celebration’s Hour for 2019 could be any number of possibilities.  The abundant goodness stored in the Father’s heart for His children should make us full of excitement and anticipation for what He has planned.

The Hour is near.

It is exceedingly and abundantly more than you could ask or imagine.

It is on time.

It is worth the wait.

It is for His glory.

It’s time to get prepared.
(Join us tonight at 7pm for more teaching on this text.)

Ex nihilo,


R.J. Rhoden