Saturday Morning Prayer and the Grace of God

I woke up today at 5:30am.

Now, that might seem a little too early for a Saturday morning for most people, but this has become a normal waking time for Ali and I. We had a hard time initially waking up this early on “our only day off.” Over time though, this waking time has become something we look forward to.

We wake up to go to a small group gathering called Morning Prayer. Karis Church, the church that we have been members at for some time now, started a morning prayer time for each day of the week. Each morning, at 6am, there is an organized time to pray for God to work in our lives, our friends and family, the city of Columbia, and for the church.

As the elders introduced this to the church I immediately felt a conviction. I didn’t understand what the conviction was at first, but I knew I desired to be involved with a Morning Prayer time. I remember hearing that there were still two morning slots that needed leaders - Tuesdays and Saturdays. 

I can’t remember much of the sermon that morning because all I was thinking about was if I should step up and lead one of the open dates. I immediately crossed off Tuesdays because I have Staff Meeting for the church on those mornings, so I knew that it would conflict with that time. So… Saturday was all that was left.

I sat in the pew that morning thinking about why I would want to do this. Did I want to do it because “real” leaders step up? Did I want to do it because I wanted to conquer a challenge? Did I want to do it because I could tell people I am choosing “the hardest morning?” (By the way, waking up at 5:30am is hard any day of the week!)

Those are all twisted reasons to get involved in leading others in prayer, but the one reason that came out from all of it was this:

I struggle with prayer.

I remember sitting there being struck with this healthy conviction that I am robbing myself of God’s intimacy by not spending time in prayer. This reality struck me because I knew it affected my relationship with God.

Why do I say that? Well, I say that because I see how easy it is to fall into believing lies that influence my heart and thoughts about God and His grace. I, like most people, stray into focusing too much on my sin and not our Savior.

"Dear Father, teach us to give our greater efforts to reveling in Your grace rather than groveling in our sin.” Art Azurdia

My lack of prayer reveals that I am more focused on my sin than the grace of God, and I know that the more I focus on my sin the more that I feel guilt and shame for falling short. Sinning in the first place is not “reveling in [God’s] grace,” but refusing to come to God in prayer is also not reveling in His grace. 

There are plenty of reasons why most of us don’t pray: guilt, shame, pride, self-sufficient lies, unbelief, anger, etc. I think of the reasons that I struggle with prayer because I feel extreme guilt and God won’t forgive me for something so offensive to His holiness. While it is true that my sin does affect my relationship with God, the truth is that my sin does not change my standing in Christ. I have placed my life in the grace of God for my salvation and not my works, so when I fall short - and I certainly will - His grace is sufficient to forgive me.

The same thing is true for you if you have trusted in Christ: His grace is sufficient to forgive you and His love for you is the motivation to come before Him for forgiveness and thank Him for His glorious grace.

We have the freedom to come before God, humble ourselves, and ask Him to give us eyes to see Him as He truly is. God is faithful and forgiving to those who are humbled before His holiness and His glory.  

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:9-10 ESV)

Saturday mornings have now become a blessing from God. It started off with just my wife and I, but now we have three others joining us. I wake up groggy each time, but I wake up knowing that God is faithful to hear our prayers. 

If you are interested in joining me pray, please let me know and I would love to connect with you. 

God is good and gracious.

Jacob Luis Gonzales

Saturday Prayer Request: Basketball Courts

Today I would like you all to pray for the basketball courts at Douglass Park. This is a place where infants to the elderly hangout and spend quality time together. We see this as a beautiful and fun place to make friendships and opportunities to share the gospel.

1. Pray that God may bring some genuine friendships in this place with those that make up the Douglass Park MC.
2. Pray for boldness to connect AND share the gospel with those that we meet on the courts. The Holy Spirit needs to give us boldness and confidence in Jesus.
3. Pray that we are able to demonstrate a different kind of competition to those we meet and play with. Pray that they see that we live a different lifestyle and may be drawn to God through simply playing basketball with them.

God is good and gracious

Jacob Luis Gonzales

Saturday Prayer Request: Kenneth Ralph Shelter

Today I would like you all to pray for the Kenneth Ralph Shelter at Douglass Park. There has been a lot of talk about a possible alcohol ban in Douglass Park because of the drinking involved under this shelter, but no matter what happens we seek to love, serve, and pray for those who hang out here. Not everyone here is dangerous, an alcoholic, or up to no good! But, there are those who are struggling with addiction that I need you to pray for.

1. Pray for the people struggling with addiction and the lifestyle associated with addiction. Being someone who struggled with this in my past, I know the struggle so please pray for the gospel of Jesus to release the enslavement of addiction.
2. Pray for the children who have parents, grandparents, and relatives that I have seen here. Pray that they might experience the love of Christ.
3. Pray for the very passionate voices who are debating the alochol ban in Douglass Park. Both sides have expressed hostility in some sense, so please pray for the love of Christ to saturate their lives and their speech as they discuss this issue.
4. Pray for Ali and I as we seek to know the people that hang out here so we can love, serve, and pray for them. We need your prayers to make these connections!

God is good and gracious

Jacob Luis Gonzales

Saturday Prayer Request: Frederick Douglass High School

Today is the first day of Saturday Prayer Request!

For the rest of the summer I will be posting a new place, person, or area that I would like you all to pray for. These places, people, and areas are essential for the thriving of our neighborhood, Douglass Park.

Today I would like you all to pray for Frederick Douglass High School. This is a historical part of Columbia, Missouri, and most of the current students comprise of the teens from around the neighborhood. It started off as the only school that black children were allowed to attend until Brown vs. Board of Education, but today it is the alternative high school in Columbia.

1. Pray for the teachers to remain steadfast in educating their students. It can be a hard place to teach at times, but pray for the teachers and leaders to lead the students well.
2. Pray for the students to see and follow godly men and women on staff, in the neighborhood, or in their lives. 
3. Pray for salvation for all people. Pray that God would start a revival in the hearts of the students, teachers, and staff. Pray that God may be known truly through Jesus Christ.
4. Pray for connections to be made with students, teachers, and staff. We desire to connect and serve the people that make up our neighborhood.

God is good and gracious

Jacob Luis Gonzales