The focal point, life source, founder and creator of the universe is someone worth getting to know! Our journey has begun through recognising the essential part that He plays in our lives, and welcoming Him to journey with us. Now, as with any relationship, we have all the time to get to know Him and build relationship together. It is a basic fact of life that relationships often start, but certainly continue through communication and our relationship with God is no different, we want to hear from Him and He wants to hear from us.
Leviticus 26 : 9-12 There are many statements in the bible that refer to ‘God with Us’ with the underlying aim that our lives are entwined with His life. The Lords prayer that Jesus taught us has this as the foundation ‘Our Father’ So here is a challenge for us all ‘Prayer – from Duty to Delight’ many unfortunately see prayer as a difficult, awkward discipline but feel guilty at the lack of it day by day, that guilt betrays something of our realisation that prayer is more than important – it is the very air that we breath. How we see God and how we understand our relationship with God dictates our agenda for prayer. Make a scheduled prayer slot daily and try keeping a journal of prayers and thoughts – it makes a great progress report.
It is our desire that as a group of Christians we emphasise prayer more and more as a daily delight and necessity and as 2012 approaches we have to remind ourselves that prayer is a foundation for our personal lives and our church life. Our 24/7 prayer week is only just over a month away but excitement is building as a church comes together to seek God’s face.
It has been said that we are either drawing close to God or falling away – there is no middle ground!
If you meet people who see prayer as simply ‘my Christmas list to God’ then encourage them that the answers are on the way, however there may be more to those answers than meets the eye……
I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity and God gave me brawn and brain to work.
I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for patience God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.
I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favours and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted.
I received everything I needed .
MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
This week begin a fresh journey of prayer with God and see your life and the lives of those around flourish and the whole environment around you feels a little different!
Take 5 right now!
Steve
Steve Speight (Rev)
Emmanuel Christian Centre
Lichfield
steve@emmanuellichfield.com
www.emmanuellichfield.com
