With so much going on in our confused and noisy world, it is sometimes difficult to know where to begin.
We know the answer, of course. It’s prayer. A posture of prayer which is in submission to the person and work of the Holy Spirit of Christ. Pray without ceasing. Forever and ever, Amen.
And yet we fail, early and often. I’m not talking about humankind in general here, the unchurched and those who do not know the Lord. I’m looking right into the proverbial mirror.
Recently, I discovered the power of contemplative prayer, also known as centring prayer. (Google it to find a good guide. But ensure that it is centred on Christ; there’s a lot of syncretism out there.) In the face of national or even global anxiety I was strongly nudged to organize a special prayer service for my congregation and the local community. I wonder if we are being invited to revive midweek gatherings and kick start more of a devotional mindset. Who better to lead us than the Lord himself, as Matthew Ruttan points out in his regular leadership column.
May spring in our Dominion (see Psalm 72:8) bring a fresh recognition that God has blessed Canada like no other. This is not for us but to be a further blessing in ways only God knows. May we speak Divine Truth in Agape love as I suggest in my letter to the 47th President.
May we be inspired to see ourselves as more than just spiritual midwives, as Barb Ferrier points out in her essay on evangelism. Holy Spirit, awaken in us a desire to seek prenatal encounters with unbelievers. Theology also matters, as Robert MacKenzie shares in his next glimpse into the rich writings of Herman Bavinck and as I offer up in a personal essay on the vital need to embrace theology as a God-breathed system.
This is our third issue. We are grateful for our contributors, none of whom receive an honorarium. I am appreciative of the editorial advisory team. And for the backing of the RF board, which has allowed me to lead this venture into the creation of a new community.
It is worth reminding that the vision of LIT is to serve wider Reformed orthodoxy in Canada, not just within the PCC. We are spiritual supporters and partners with Living Stones as well as PCC Renewal – the Spirit-breathed movement of young adults on a mission to restore orthodoxy. See their brief update. (We’ve created a folder just for them under the News tab.) The Stones (as I fondly call them) continues to grow with its second annual National Engagement Conference.
But the landscape is much wider than this. Please pray that we will be able to offer fare that attracts other Biblical believers among confessional, reformed, Christ-centred congregations/associations/denominations.
As always, we are open to submissions of material or referrals to writers who are nudged to witness and share.
May the peace of Christ and power of His Spirit dwell within you and fall upon you as required in this extraordinary time.
