The Pilgrim Path---Psalm 86: 1--3

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you---you are my God. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.

We Cry---HE ANSWERS

The Saint has the need to talk to the Living Christ throughout the day. Believers requires such divine assistance and communion; it is simply a necessity. Tending to the children. Caring for an aged loved one. Managing the business. Working with others’ in broken relationships. Dealing with physical pain---we must speak with the One who re-made us in His Son. Well, today---our church is the host for the 120th Stated Meeting of Heritage Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America. This comprises most PCA churches from the state of Delaware, and most of the PCA churches from the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We are a “connectional” church---so we typically meet together like this four (4) times a year to cover everything thing from common Mission endeavors (locally & globally); examine potential candidates for gospel ministry; look at sites for church plants; hear of Christian Ed. Efforts; University Minister efforts; deal with concerns of a judicial / discipline nature, make requests of Church & Ministerial Oversight; hear church reports; Pray for churches; hear missionary reports that were sent “from” our Presbytery----quite a docket…

All that to ASK: Please pray for this important day (8:30---2 PM)

Probably around 9:45—10 AM / Rev. Peter Render will begin his “transfer exam” before the Presbytery. All transferring ministers in the PCA, that move from one Presbytery to another---must be examined before officially taking their new position. This is to make sure their views of orthodoxy are as “solid” as they were--- when they were ordained. Peter should be fine. Ask the LORD’S great calm and ability to recall what is necessary in the moment.

Here is some good guidance from David Butts (Harvest Prayer) ---

ARE YOU READY TO PRAY?

---Have I confessed all known sin? Isaiah 59: 1-2 “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

---Are all my relationships with others what they should be? Matthew 6: 14-15 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

---Are you seeking His will in all things? I John 5: 14-15 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that is, we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him.”

---Are you seeking to glorify God above all things? John 14: 13-14 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

---Are you depending on the Holy Spirit’s guidance? Romans 8: 26-27 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

---Are you trusting God despite what seems to be? Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

---Will you praise God no matter what? I Thessalonians 5: 16—18 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

“Prayer is our chief duty and brings heaven down to man. There is no duty that has so many promises attached to it, gives more honor to God, or which receives more honor from God. It is a guard to secure the fort of the heart, a porter to keep the door of the lip, and a shield to protect the hands. It perfumes every relation and profits every condition. No one can deprive you of this privilege. George Swinnock

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, and hear,

For I am poor and great in need;

Preserve my soul, for thee I fear;

O God, thy trusting servant heed.

Psalm 86

The Psalter, 1912

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason