As we enter a new year, it is a time for resolutions and for reflecting on what we would like to see happen in our lives. Some of it might seem like wishful thinking; but in reality, we would hope that if possible, what we long for would come to us.
I believe that prayer is an excellent way for us to begin the year. We can put our hopes and dreams in God's hands. I have learned that we can never underestimate the power of prayer. God can do far more than what we can ask or even imagine.
We read in Luke's Gospel the words of Jesus: "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you." (Luke 11:9)
What do you want in the year 2010? For what will you be searching? What door do you want to be opened for you?
May you have a blessed New Year!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Praying with Emotion - the Christmas Connection
"But Hannah answered, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.’ " 1 Samuel 1:15-16
The story of Hannah giving birth to Samuel and Mary giving birth to Jesus have a parallel. The birth of those two children involved God's intervention.
What strikes me about Hannah's story is that she had prayed fervently for a child. We learn from the account that she had been "pouring out her soul before the Lord." She desperately wanted to have a child. In her prayer she vowed that if she had a son, she would give him to the Lord's service.
How many of us are willing to pour out our soul in prayer?
It's easy when caught in a difficult time to feel that God doesn't care for me or that God can't do anything. With Hannah, we discover a person who felt more connected to God. The point of her pouring out her soul was that she believed what God could do.
Do you believe that God is bigger than your problems? Have you ever been so desperate that you have "poured out your soul" to the Lord?
The story of Hannah giving birth to Samuel and Mary giving birth to Jesus have a parallel. The birth of those two children involved God's intervention.
What strikes me about Hannah's story is that she had prayed fervently for a child. We learn from the account that she had been "pouring out her soul before the Lord." She desperately wanted to have a child. In her prayer she vowed that if she had a son, she would give him to the Lord's service.
How many of us are willing to pour out our soul in prayer?
It's easy when caught in a difficult time to feel that God doesn't care for me or that God can't do anything. With Hannah, we discover a person who felt more connected to God. The point of her pouring out her soul was that she believed what God could do.
Do you believe that God is bigger than your problems? Have you ever been so desperate that you have "poured out your soul" to the Lord?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Pray Continually
How much should prayer be part of your life? Can you say too many prayers?
Th apostle Paul wrote: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Paul would have us see that prayer is to be part of a believer's life from start to finish. It is what keeps us connected to God. It's like how you might continually check in with a family member who lives out of state. You want to keep in touch. God wants to keep in touch with us. Our continual praying also reminds us of how dependent we are on God for all that we have. We draw our strength from the Creator of the universe.
It's easy to pray just in times of need - when there is sickness, a broken relationship, or financial worries. Yet, Paul states right after his command to pray continually and to give thanks. We can never bypass that need to give thanks in our praying. Praying helps to keep us connected to God and remember our relationship to our Creator.
How much has prayer become a way of life for you?
Th apostle Paul wrote: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Paul would have us see that prayer is to be part of a believer's life from start to finish. It is what keeps us connected to God. It's like how you might continually check in with a family member who lives out of state. You want to keep in touch. God wants to keep in touch with us. Our continual praying also reminds us of how dependent we are on God for all that we have. We draw our strength from the Creator of the universe.
It's easy to pray just in times of need - when there is sickness, a broken relationship, or financial worries. Yet, Paul states right after his command to pray continually and to give thanks. We can never bypass that need to give thanks in our praying. Praying helps to keep us connected to God and remember our relationship to our Creator.
How much has prayer become a way of life for you?
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Starting Out Your Day
"Very early the next morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and left the house. He went out of town to a lonely place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35
How do you begin your day? Is it contemplating the myriad of things you have to do? Is it reading the newspaper or turning on the TV to catch the latest news on what has happened?
The evangelist Mark tells us of a time when Jesus got up early and the first thing he did was to find solitude and time for prayer. We notice from the verses preceding this verse that Jesus' previous day was filled with activity, especially healing people who were sick. It was a day of Jesus' bringing the kingdom to folks.
Upon waking, I try to say a brief prayer in thankfulness that God has sustained me through the night. I realize I cannot take it for granted. After breakfast, I will also have time to pray along with reading of Scripture. I find I need to start the day out in this manner.
Prayer reminds us that we are not walking alone throughout the day. We have directed our attention to God who can give us strength and guide us. When we pray in upon waking, we have God in our minds right from the start.
How is it with you? Can prayer become a priority in your life when you get up in the morning?
How do you begin your day? Is it contemplating the myriad of things you have to do? Is it reading the newspaper or turning on the TV to catch the latest news on what has happened?
The evangelist Mark tells us of a time when Jesus got up early and the first thing he did was to find solitude and time for prayer. We notice from the verses preceding this verse that Jesus' previous day was filled with activity, especially healing people who were sick. It was a day of Jesus' bringing the kingdom to folks.
Upon waking, I try to say a brief prayer in thankfulness that God has sustained me through the night. I realize I cannot take it for granted. After breakfast, I will also have time to pray along with reading of Scripture. I find I need to start the day out in this manner.
Prayer reminds us that we are not walking alone throughout the day. We have directed our attention to God who can give us strength and guide us. When we pray in upon waking, we have God in our minds right from the start.
How is it with you? Can prayer become a priority in your life when you get up in the morning?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Praying in Advent
The season of Advent has us focus on Jesus' birth as well as his coming again. I would have us focus on a verse in Luke's Gospel regarding our Lord's return.
"Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36
These words of our Lord come as a he is talking about the end times. He wanted his followers to be attentive to the signs of the times. Just as the fig tree with budding leaves is an indication that summer is near, so when we see various signs in the sky we should know of his coming.
There have always been predictions about the end times. Predictions have been made about the year 2012 that has spawned a movie. Many targeted dates have come and gone, and the world still continues. The Bible tells us that we don't know the exact date of Jesus' coming.
In this season of Advent, we are reminded that prayer can serve to strengthen us in regard to our Lord's second coming. We would pray that we would not only be attentive, but also that we would not fear what is to come. All of history will come to a close; yet, history is in God's hands.
What are you praying in this season of the church? Can you also include pray that you would remain strong as you wait for Jesus' coming?
"Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36
These words of our Lord come as a he is talking about the end times. He wanted his followers to be attentive to the signs of the times. Just as the fig tree with budding leaves is an indication that summer is near, so when we see various signs in the sky we should know of his coming.
There have always been predictions about the end times. Predictions have been made about the year 2012 that has spawned a movie. Many targeted dates have come and gone, and the world still continues. The Bible tells us that we don't know the exact date of Jesus' coming.
In this season of Advent, we are reminded that prayer can serve to strengthen us in regard to our Lord's second coming. We would pray that we would not only be attentive, but also that we would not fear what is to come. All of history will come to a close; yet, history is in God's hands.
What are you praying in this season of the church? Can you also include pray that you would remain strong as you wait for Jesus' coming?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Praying with Thanksgiving
At this time of Thanksgiving, we are reminded that thankfulness is to be part of prayer.
The apostle Paul wrote: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7.
Paul starts out by telling us to be joyful. It there is any anxiety, it is to be placed in the hands of God in prayer. We note, however, that it is not just bringing our urgent need before God; it is to make sure that we come in a spirit of thankfulness.
How many of our prayers are just asking for things because we are in a crisis or just want more prosperity in life? It can be tempting to always be crisis-oriented when it comes to prayer. The apostle encourages us to include a word of thanks in the prayers. Note what this inclusion does for us. It makes us not forget what we do have and, above all, have received from God. It makes us see that God is the provider of all that we have received; therefore, we can place our trust in our Creator for the deepest concerns we bring.
How is it going with your prayers? Are they just filled with requests only? Are you also able to remember to give thanks?
The apostle Paul wrote: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7.
Paul starts out by telling us to be joyful. It there is any anxiety, it is to be placed in the hands of God in prayer. We note, however, that it is not just bringing our urgent need before God; it is to make sure that we come in a spirit of thankfulness.
How many of our prayers are just asking for things because we are in a crisis or just want more prosperity in life? It can be tempting to always be crisis-oriented when it comes to prayer. The apostle encourages us to include a word of thanks in the prayers. Note what this inclusion does for us. It makes us not forget what we do have and, above all, have received from God. It makes us see that God is the provider of all that we have received; therefore, we can place our trust in our Creator for the deepest concerns we bring.
How is it going with your prayers? Are they just filled with requests only? Are you also able to remember to give thanks?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A House of Prayer for All Peoples
We read in the book of Isaiah: "For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." Is. 56:7
Prayer is the vehicle through which we communicate with God. We are brought into direct conversation with our living God. I remember the definition of prayer I learned from my days of being in Confirmation Class: "Prayer is a heart to heart talk between the believer and God." Prayer is where we can speak to God the most intimate details of our lives--probably what we would not feel comfortable revealing to others.
While it is true we can pray anywhere, the sanctuary itself is a special venue for prayer. It is here that we are in the company of other believers. It is here where we are gathered to bring our thanks, praise, and supplications to God.
At Savior Divine, we list in the bulletin the names of people who have requested prayer. Their names are read aloud in our service. We also have a time for members to speak aloud or in the silence of their hearts their prayers before God.
I like this idea of being open to God when assembled for worship. Do you have a house of worship where you can pray? Have you prayed very much in an ecumenical setting?
Prayer is the vehicle through which we communicate with God. We are brought into direct conversation with our living God. I remember the definition of prayer I learned from my days of being in Confirmation Class: "Prayer is a heart to heart talk between the believer and God." Prayer is where we can speak to God the most intimate details of our lives--probably what we would not feel comfortable revealing to others.
While it is true we can pray anywhere, the sanctuary itself is a special venue for prayer. It is here that we are in the company of other believers. It is here where we are gathered to bring our thanks, praise, and supplications to God.
At Savior Divine, we list in the bulletin the names of people who have requested prayer. Their names are read aloud in our service. We also have a time for members to speak aloud or in the silence of their hearts their prayers before God.
I like this idea of being open to God when assembled for worship. Do you have a house of worship where you can pray? Have you prayed very much in an ecumenical setting?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
We at Savior Divine believe strongly in the power of prayer and want to help people connect to God through this means. We, therefore, see our church as helping people in these ways:
1. Being a place where we pray for people.
2. Being a place where people can come and pray.
3. Being a place where people can learn about prayer.
This blog will focus on the last item where I will post a message about prayer on a weekly basis beginning in mid-November.
In addition, the church will be open for prayer on Wednesdays from 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. beginning November 11. The month of November will be a special time to come and give thanks for the many blessings in your life.
Blessings,
Pastor Marty
1. Being a place where we pray for people.
2. Being a place where people can come and pray.
3. Being a place where people can learn about prayer.
This blog will focus on the last item where I will post a message about prayer on a weekly basis beginning in mid-November.
In addition, the church will be open for prayer on Wednesdays from 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. beginning November 11. The month of November will be a special time to come and give thanks for the many blessings in your life.
Blessings,
Pastor Marty
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