Join us each Sunday to Celebrate the Lord Jesus, His Life and Love for us.
As we Build Families Who Passionately Pursue the Lord Jesus and Live His Word.
Tag: Prayer
Celebration Service
Join us each Sunday to Celebrate the Lord Jesus, His Life and Love for us.
As we Build Families Who Passionately Pursue the Lord Jesus and Live His Word.
Celebration Service
Join us each Sunday to Celebrate the Lord Jesus, His Life and Love for us.
As we Build Families Who Passionately Pursue the Lord Jesus and Live His Word.
Celebration Service
Join us each Sunday to Celebrate the Lord Jesus, His Life and Love for us.
As we Build Families Who Passionately Pursue the Lord Jesus and Live His Word.
“Have a Hard Time Breathing?”
I recently heard of a friend’s formal diagnosis of COPD. I’ve known for awhile that they used a nebulizer and often struggled with breathing. My heart goes out to them. Beyond the causes & cures, remedies & maladies, they still carry on….
Do you have a hard time breathing too? Occasionally, I’ll struggle catching my breath, but this is not a constant daily occurrence. Yet again, I know many that do….
As I was pondering this, I was wondering if people who do not pray frequently are like those who have a hard time breathing. Maybe they often struggle catching their breath, much like a COPD diagnosis?
Having a poetic license with no expiration date, I like to propose another explanation of the COPD acronym: Commune Often; Pray Daily!
The early church did; why can’t we?
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42 Holman Christian Standard Bible).
The Early Church communed with the Holy One and each other daily (Acts 2:46ff). They made it a habit. Should not we, also? Praying for one another? Communing with one another? Let us start off this New Year with some strong breathing exercises and change the diagnosis from clinical COPD to heavenly COPD (Commune Often; Pray Daily).
Join me in taking a deep breath,
Pastor Mike
“Pray without Seeing?”
Okay, so maybe I’m slurring a pun here, but let’s pause and think about it. How often is the exhortation from Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing” (NKJV), glibly said? Oh, we may pray without ceasing, but alas, often it is more praying without seeing, isn’t it?
I’m reminded of Elijah, especially because we have been praying for rain now for some time. And as of this writing there has been no rain in the valley…yet. Elijah prayed without seeing, didn’t?
Let’s look again at 1 Kings 18:41-46. In this passage we are reminded that it had not rained for over 3 years and apparently the time for drought was ending. So, Elijah “bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees,” and prayed (1 Kings 18:42 NIV84). Then he told his servant, not once, not twice, but seven times to check for rain. Surely some time passed between each investigation, wouldn’t you agree? And all the while Elijah continued praying without seeing. (His face was against his knees, right?)
The obvious question arises concerning our praying for rain. In anticipation of the answer I put the gutters down, even washed my windows, but I haven’t washed my car yet. And still no rain. I have had to ask myself, “how’s my praying without seeing coming?” Have I grown weary in praying… and not just for rain? The inventory was telling ….
Would you join me in continuing to “pray without seeing”? Maybe we can be an encouragement to each other? Beginning Wednesday, September 16, I am starting a once a month prayer-walk. We will meet at the church and begin there in our praying without seeing. See you there 7:00 pm?
Peace,
Pastor Mike
“Pray without Seeing?”
Okay, so maybe I’m slurring a pun here, but let’s pause and think about it. How often is the exhortation from Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 glibly said? Oh, we may pray without ceasing, but alas, often it is more praying without seeing, isn’t it?
I’m reminded of Elijah, especially because we have been praying for rain now for some time. And as of this writing there has been no rain in the valley…yet. Elijah prayed without seeing, didn’t?
Let’s look again at 1 Kings 18:41-46. In this passage we are reminded that it had not rained for over 3 years and apparently the time for drought was ending. So, Elijah “bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees,” and prayed (1 Kings 18:42 NIV84). Then he told his servant, not once, not twice, but seven times to check for rain. Surely some time passed between each investigation, wouldn’t you agree? And all the while Elijah continued praying without seeing. (His face was against his knees, right?)
The obvious question arises concerning our praying for rain. In anticipation of the answer I put the gutters down, even washed my windows, but I haven’t washed my car yet. And still no rain. I have had to ask myself, “how’s my praying without seeing coming?” Have I grown weary in praying… and not just for rain? The inventory was telling ….
Would you join me in continuing to “pray without seeing”? Maybe we can be an encouragement to each other? Beginning Wednesday, September 16, I am starting a once a month prayer-walk. We will meet at the church and begin there in our praying without seeing. See you there 7:00 pm?
Peace,
Pastor Mike
Do Not be Distracted
Another lesson that the Lord exposed to me on my sabbatical was: “Do not be distracted”. It was consolidated at a friend’s church as he was speaking from Nehemiah.
Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. (Nehemiah 6:2–4 NIV84)
Many people will distract us. Some will do this intentionally, but the majority will innocently “interrupt” us. But I have found the greater battle is internal. I get so distracted between a good “task,” “project, or “activity” and the best. I must pause and seek the Lord’s face prior to engaging in any activity. A simple, “Lord, what do You want me to do now?” prayer should be sufficient for most times, but the larger projects, do you think these would require a more deliberate special seeking of the Lord’s face?
Join me on this journey to stay focused and “not be distracted”?
“Prayer Warning”
“Prayer Warning. Prayer Needed. But not just any kind of prayer; Prayer filled with Thanksgiving and Hope is needed!”
Have you ever had this warning scrolling across the prayer screen of your life? I have. Yep, although I was diligently praying, my Whine-O-Meter was pegging the Red Zone! Then the above warning scrolled across my prayer screen. Ouch!
I stopped and discovered: “Thanklessness sours prayer!”
If I am not praying with thank-fullness, then my prayers are sour and probably stink a wee bit…. So the Lord, in His Mercy & Grace, redirected my attitude (after some confession) and thus redirected my prayers. Now they are filling with Hope as well as Thanksgiving.
Oh, I’m still waiting on some “urgent” answers, but at least the waiting room is far more peaceful and calm—and hopeful, too!
Main Text— Ephesians 1:15–16 (NIV84)— 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ ….—2 Corinthians 2:14–15a (NIV84)
May my prayer be set before You like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.—Psalm 141:2 (NIV84)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV84)
Heavenly Father, forgive me for my anxious, whiny thoughts which sour my prayers. Fill me with the Holy Spirit of thankfulness and hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Pastor Mike
“How Powerless Is a Prayerless Life”
This morning’s focus in a devotion I regularly use sparked this thought in me: How powerless is a prayerless life? Then I started asking myself some other questions, like: “How long can I hold my breath?” (It’s been said that breathing to the physical life is like prayer to the spiritual life.) Or “How powerful is an unplugged power tool?” (Ah, but what if I have a cordless one? Then, “How long will the battery last without being recharged???”)
The short answer? “Not long,” to all three questions. And, “Not powerful at all.”
So then why do I think I can go for a while—any while—without praying? What in me thinks—ah, but perhaps this is the issue: I am not thinking. I am on automatic. I am coasting. Now, to be sure, there are some relationships that can coast for a bit, but at some point in the relationship a conversation has to start up; some interaction must take place. Otherwise the relationship (both human and divine) will ultimately shrivel up and ….
In this morning’s main text (below), Shepherd David (probably written before he became king), notes that, “The upright will see [the Holy One] face-to-face.” This may be in the ultimate physical sense, but can it also be in a moment by moment daily sense as well? And can this happen through prayer?
….and through this interaction of prayer—through this conversation with the Holy One, my strength is replenished; my battery recharged? I think so. And in this intimate exchange, I begin to see His face more clearly than I have before. The power of the Holy One’s presence in prayer definitely replenishes any draining or discharging I may have experienced prior to this prayerful exchange…don’t you think?
Care to share your thoughts on how powerless a prayerless life can be?
Main Text— Psalm 11:7 (ISV)— 7 Indeed, the LORD is righteous; He loves righteousness; the upright will see Him face-to-face.
Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts
Now we see only a blurred reflection in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now what I know is incomplete, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.—1 Corinthians 13:12 (ISV)
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.—Luke 6:12 (NIV2011)
“Why are you sleeping?” [Jesus] asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”—(Luke 22:46 (NIV84)
Lord Jesus Christ, I put You on as my Breath of Prayer. Forgive me for those times I have held my breath way too long. In Your Grace & Mercy recharge my soul. In Your Name, Amen
Pastor Mike