Really need prayer

[Eli Brayley]

Friends,

I feel like I've come under such great attack, or something, that drives me to depression and steals away my joy so that I hardly can smile, and ministering the word is incredibly difficult. I feel like vitality is being sucked out of me. There's a large group from Oklahoma who are coming this weekend and I'm going to be doing some evangelism training and leading them on a door-to-door outreach, but I feel so impotent and dry. I never used to be like this, but now it seems days of joy and power have gone by. I am trusting the Lord to get me through this. I really have nothing I can do to get out of it myself.

The only comfort I can draw is that perhaps God is dealing with me and my own human sufficiency. I truly hope that is the case. Even so, it is not joyful and I am very down. I need grace to call upon the Lord. I really need your prayers right now to lift me up before God because I can hardly pray for myself. I know that God has delivered me in the past, and can deliver me again. I want my faith to be His faith in me, and not my own. Please help me, brothers and sisters, and pray for me.

Struggling,
Your brother,
-Eli

[rivqah]

May 15, 2009 7:56:40 GMT -7 Eli Brayley said:

Friends,

I feel like I've come under such great attack, or something, that drives me to depression and steals away my joy so that I hardly can smile, and ministering the word is incredibly difficult. I feel like vitality is being sucked out of me. There's a large group from Oklahoma who are coming this weekend and I'm going to be doing some evangelism training and leading them on a door-to-door outreach, but I feel so impotent and dry. I never used to be like this, but now it seems days of joy and power have gone by. I am trusting the Lord to get me through this. I really have nothing I can do to get out of it myself.

The only comfort I can draw is that perhaps God is dealing with me and my own human sufficiency. I truly hope that is the case. Even so, it is not joyful and I am very down. I need grace to call upon the Lord. I really need your prayers right now to lift me up before God because I can hardly pray for myself. I know that God has delivered me in the past, and can deliver me again. I want my faith to be His faith in me, and not my own. Please help me, brothers and sisters, and pray for me.

Struggling,
Your brother,
-Eli

I'm praying for you brother, Eli. I'm not surprised at all that you have been under attack from the enemy. I was so blessed to here what the Lord is doing through your ministry. Even after reading that I felt led to pray for you because I knew you would be under attack soon. The Lord is my witness that this is true. Eli, I would encourage you brother to get alone with God before you meet with this group as much as you can where their are no distractions like a park. Just the other day I sat by the lake, reading the word of God and praying. The joy of the Lord and the peace of God came over me, I had so much strength after that. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Also get plenty of sleep and make sure you are eating well. God bless you! I've been praying and will pray all the more for you. Your a blessing!

[4him]

Dear brother Eli,

Please know that I've been praying for you and will keep praying for you :-) Have been through many of these seasons myself as well. I remember, while growing up, I would hear my mom praying out loud, and she often would pray scriptures when she prayed. One of her favourite scriptures to pray was 1 Peter 4 :12,13 :

" Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you : But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

When she go to this part, "As though some STRANGE thing happened to you", she would really emphasize the word strange. At that time, I didn't fully understand why she did this, but now I do- and I know you do too.

I believe that God is at work in your life in the midst of this. Even in this trial, you are being an encourgement to others (such as myself), as we witness you leaning upon the Lord during this difficult time. May the Lord surround you with His love and strength.

Your brother in Christ,
John

[rivqah]

The adverse winds blew against my life;
My little ship with grief was tossed;
My plans were gone--heart full of strife,
And all my hope seemed to be lost--
"Then He arose"--one word of peace.
"There was a calm"--a sweet release.

A tempest great of doubt and fear
Possessed my mind; no light was there
To guide, or make my vision clear.
Dark night! 'twas more than I could bear--
"Then He arose," I saw His face--
"There was a calm" filled with His grace.

My heart was sinking 'neath the wave
Of deepening test and raging grief;
All seemed as lost, and none could save,
And nothing could bring me relief--
"Then He arose"--and spoke one word,
"There was a calm!" IT IS THE LORD..
--L. S. P.

[rivqah]

Here's some music to encourage you brother, Eli:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eiy3_KRKNaQ

This song always lifts me up.

[danlirette]

Brother, you have faithfully stood in the gap for me and Carolyn and I will do the same for you.

We watched a sermon by Brother Carter Conlon last night called "Hold not Thy peace, oh God of my praise". It deals with the issue of

The SermonIndex site describes it as "This is a stirring sermon to encourage us in the midst of a storm. From the Psalms and Hebrews Pastor Conlon shows us that the truth of God in our hearts will bring peace amidst the lying and hating voices around us. A wonderful exhortation against the attacks of the enemy."

www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=2713

[runner4jesus]

Hi Eli: Tim & I and our son-in-law just prayed for you. Trusting all will go well this week-end with that training. We pray that the Lord will give you a JOY as you minister to these that are coming. Love, Tim & Margie

[rivqah]

I hope that all is well. Still praying...