“Prayer is effective and God can and does work mightily in response to it, but He usually lets us wrestle with our habitual fears for a season. That’s because He wants us to grow to hate them and to desire to be free from them for the right reason: His glory.” (Elyse Fitzpatrick, Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Praise God for His blessing in guiding us through another week! May these links be another source of blessing, to draw you to His Word, and point you upward to Christ, the founder and perfecter of our faith.

• Al Mohler was recently celebrated for completing 25 years as president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. A wonderfully made video chronicling his arrival, trials, and triumph was shown at a banquet for him. Watch, and give thanks to God for His faithfulness in Mohler’s life of faithfulness.
• We can definitely say we believe the gospel, but have we possibly turned the gospel into a form of legalism? Biblical counselor Rick Thomas points us to our friendships in the church and ask some very pointed questions that will draw us to live in light of the gospel. Be ready for some sharpening to take place.
• What does it look like to counsel together as a married couple? Robert Jones starts off this three-part series of counseling together by addressing 10 benefits from doing so, while Howard Eyrich discusses four considerations in non-spousal co-counseling. Garrett Higbee ends the series with a call for leaders and maturing brothers and sisters in Christ to be an advocate for a counselee, and how that changed his counseling philosophy to effectively provide soul care and equip the body to the work of ministry.
• Sometimes, it really helps to be reminded of what heaven on earth is going to be like. Nancy Guthrie gives us a taste, and it is sweet.
• Dr. Dale Johnson, Executive Director Elect of ACBC, gives some new areas of focus which the organization is going to be involved in. Consider yourself informed.
• Sean McDowell identifies what the three features of a self-refuting statement commonly are.
• In Canada, cannabis use will be legalized. While believers are called to evaluate the merits of any claim, knowing the consequences of marijuana use can be an effective means of pointing people to the one solution that can truly save. Jake LeFave, a church planter in Vancouver, gives a great layout to responding to those who want to legalize marijuana use.
• Does God truly desire for all to be saved? If He does, then why isn’t everyone? Pastor Clint Archer gives a short, 500-word response.
• Paul Washer from HeartCry Missionary Society and a couple other workers in this group give a current update to those who are currently suffering persecution in Asia. Please be in prayer for our brothers and sisters!

That’s all for this week! Please pray for the youth and collegians, as they meet tonight at church, that many would turn from their sin and come to saving faith in Christ. See you on Sunday, God-willing!

Soli Deo Gloria