Do You Have the Time to Pray?

Each of us has only so many minutes each day.  We need to eat; we need to sleep; we need to get our work done - whatever that means for us.  The question is: How am I using my time?  

It's been said that if you want to get something done, you make the time for it!  It doesn't take much in our fast pace way of living to get caught up in so many non-essentials.  Okay, so what about texting?  I certainly realize that there are times when texting is important to us.  We need to convey an important short message to a family member that we have arrived safely while on a trip.  But there are other times when texting is done just for the enjoyment of saying a few words to someone else.

Of course, texting takes some time whether it is a minute or two minutes.  But do you find at least that amount of time for prayer each day?  Do you become so burdened with the trivial things (read non-essentials) that your schedule crowds out prayer?

I invite you to take the time to consider what time you do give to prayer each day?  How do you value your relationship with God?

A Great Day for a Prayer Walk

I usually try to get more and more walking in each day.  I feel it is not only good for my health but also good for my mind.  It gives me thinking time.

Today, I decided to use my mind but in the form of a prayer walk down the streets around the church. As I passed by houses, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of those who live there.  I am not sure how many people don't know Christ as Savior and I don't know how many people are unchurched.  I feel I can always pray that the Spirit would work in those whom I passed by and they would be stirred to greater searching in their lives for having a closer relationship with God.

Sometimes, we wonder what can we all do for the kingdom of God.  It doesn't always have to be something of a great magnitude like an extensive service project.  It can simply be offering our prayers up to God to pray for those to grow in their faith.

If you have the time, I would encourage you to do such a walk!  It will be good for your health and also for the kingdom of God.

Jesus Praying for Your Faith

Certainly in the life of Jesus, we discover how much he is concerned about our physical needs.  We find him feeding the multitude and healing the sick.  Jesus also has a concern for our spiritual needs - as in our faith.  I recall the words of Jesus to Peter:

"Simon, Simon, listen!  Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."  Luke 22:31-32.

Jesus saw the power of Satan in the life of Peter and still wants Peter to remain strong.  I would believe that Jesus has the same concern for you and me.  He is continually praying that our faith would not depart from him.  He realizes the many temptations that come our way.  Satan is continually on the prowl to make us doubt God's promises and perhaps even God's existence and not to trust Jesus for our living.

In our own struggles with faith, we can rest assure that Jesus is praying to God that we will keep the faith until the end.  Do you believe this will strengthen your own faith?

A Healing Prayer from the Apostle Paul

This coming Sunday is the Day of St. Peter and St. Paul.   We honor their faithfulness and witness for the Lord.  In this post, I would like to emphasize one particular time of praying that came in the life of Paul.

In Acts 28 we read how Paul and others on the boat become shipwrecked on the island of Malta.  Paul is on a voyage, along with other prisoners, to be taken to Rome in order for him to defend himself.  When Paul and the others set foot on this island, they learn that the island is under the leadership of a man named Publius.  Paul also learns that this man's father had become sick.  We read here that Paul "visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him."  (verse 8).

I wonder here what Publius and his family thought about Paul after this healing? Did Publius or anyone in his family come to faith in Christ?

Imagine now that you are praying for a public official, whether for healing or for some other need. Might this not help in bringing about the welfare of your town?  Might this not also make an impact on this person in government?  As the church we are called to be an influence and be the light and salt of the earth.  Yes, there is much that we have to offer.  Pray might be one thing that you CAN do!

Pentecost Praying

The great event of Pentecost happened shortly after Jesus' ascension.  Before he had ascended, Jesus mentioned that the Holy Spirit would be coming and that his followers were to be in a waiting mode. Here is how Luke describes this time of waiting:

"All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers." Acts 1:14

Do you see that this period was not just idle waiting.  Jesus' followers were actively engaged in PRAYING.   I would think that praying not only displays our confidence about what our Lord promises, but also helps us to have the patience.  For those disciples, it was for a period of 10 days.  For us the length of time for praying for our desires might be longer!

Here is the other thing about this experience for those followers.  The result, I'm sure, was greater than what they had expected.  They had no idea the manner in which the Spirit would come as well as the number of people coming to faith as a result of the Pentecost event.  In our own praying for what God promises in Scripture, it is possible that God will deliver in a way beyond what we ever imagined. Has this ever happened to you?  Might it not be encouragement to keep on praying for what you desire in life?

Congregational Prayer for Savior Divine

Although I have touched on this prayer before, it is one that seems to fit our context well.   It was written by a member of the congregation for us to use in our worship each Sunday.  I feel it is a very bold and dynamic prayer for our congregation. Here it is:

"Dear Lord, bless us with your love and help us to do your will.  
Give us the ability to spread your word, 
to help our congregation to grow,
to maintain our building as a place of worship open to all,
to understand your plan for our mission and ministry.
We thank you for the financing of our bus ministry,
in your name we trust.  Amen."

I notice the discipleship emphasis here.  It is a plea that we would do God's will. It is a prayer of surrender just as we pray likewise in The Lord's Prayer.  Then, too, notice that it asks for us to have the ability to spread God's word.  This would entail learning about witnessing as well as having the courage to witness.

There is also the request that we would understand God's plan for our mission and ministry.  I believe this is ever evolving for us as we learn more about our neighboring communities, their needs and also what we might have to offer.  In addition, we are seeking to focus our mission and also to work hand-in-hand with Moraine Valley Community Church, also worshiping in this building and discovering what we can do in joint ministry.

The prayer concludes with a word of thanks.  We have been very grateful to receive a couple of grants to keep our bus ministry going this year.  This transportation has been very important for us as we bring folks to worship who otherwise might not be part of a worshiping community.

All in all, I realize we are taking the long view with this prayer.  It is prayed not just once, but on a weekly basis.  I hope that with some of your prayers, you also take the long view.

Knee Deep in Prayer

As I have been reading through the book of Acts and following the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul along with his co-workers, I was struck by this incident where Paul meets up with the elders from Ephesus in Miletus.  He had formerly been in Ephesus, spent some three years there, and now on his way to Jerusalem meets up with them in Miletus.

Paul has a rather lengthy discussion with them and mentions that he had spoke the whole purpose of God to them.  He held nothing back.  He realized that he had suffered persecution and imprisonment and acknowledges that it might happen again.  He also acknowledges that he wants to finish the ministry to which he had been called!

We read here in regard to Paul:  "When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed.  There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again.  Then they brought him to the ship."  Acts 20:36-38

Can you begin to capture the scene and what an emotional time it must have been?

I believe we in the church need to realize that if we want to do faithful witnessing there will be hard times ahead for us.  There will be rejection and obstacles.  Are we ready to endure?  Yes, it comes with the territory.  When we do get down on our knees in prayer, it indicates that we take our calling seriously.  It also shows that we are willing to depend on God's power to work through us.