Body
The book of Psalms is the Christian’s best friend. There are so many helpful and encouraging psalms that are practical in nature. As a pastor, I found Psalm 127:1 very convicting. It says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” I’m sure that all pastors desire for the church to grow spiritually but this Psalm shows us that if we are the ones building the house then we will labor in vain. So often we come in with 10 ways to grow the church body but really we are helpless without God working in our churches. Even if you are layperson, I’m sure you desire for the church to grow. I know that you desire to see more people place their trust in the name of Jesus Christ for their salvation. I know that you desire to see families restored, marriages saved, addictions broken, and missionaries sent out through the power of the Gospel. But there is no person that can do this outside of the person of Jesus. If we are the ones building the house then we will labor in vain. We have to have a deep dependence on God to grow our churches and to bring the lost to a saving faith. This doesn’t mean that we do nothing! We live our lives in obedience to the commands that we have but we also trust that the main ingredient to a successful church is deep reliance on the Lord. How do we rely on the Lord? Let me give you two ways: 1. Focus On Your Prayer Life Prayer is the billboard that we hold up to God proclaiming that we need him. It is a reflection of utter dependence on him. Grow your prayer life this season. That might mean praying in a new way. I find that praying through Scripture can be very helpful in praying for things and people we might not have thought about. It could be finding a place in your house that becomes your prayer corner. The people of God must find themselves in prayer more if we desire God to move in our lives or in our churches.
