From the Pastor’s Desk
Prayer—part one
‘Pray without ceasing’ (I Thessolians 5:17)
As I continue writing about spiritual practices, I am going to take the next two months to reflect upon prayer. This month I want to focus upon prayer in general and then next month to focus more on several forms or types of prayer.
I remember about 14 years ago one day when I went to my office for the day. The day started normally—I was busy working on sermon preparation, writing some letters, etc. I did not think too much about the fact that the phone had not rung all morning. And if anything it was sort of nice that the phone did not ring. And then I went to call someone. When I picked up the phone, the line was dead. I finally did get a hold of the phone company to get the line repaired, but it took two days. The rest of the day and the next, as I sat in my office, I thought about how isolated I felt—no one could reach me and I could not reach anyone. (Obviously, this was prior to everyone having a cell phone along with many monthly minutes.)
I know that there have been times in my life when I have felt this way with my relationship with God. I have felt disconnected from God. I have felt like I was talking, but no one was listening. Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever thought that somehow your phone line to God has been disconnected?
While most Christians experience this at some point in their walk with Christ, we need to be reassured, that this is only our perception. God never disconnects his phone line. God never screens his calls. God never turns the ringer off so as not to be bothered.
God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to come and die for our sins. God so loved the world that He is always at work and always there for us to take our prayers, petitions, requests and thanksgivings to Him. We only need to reach out and call (pray).
This upcoming season of Lent, would be a good time to reflect and ask ourselves how our relationship with God is going. Do we take time to reach out and talk with God? Do we take time to listen to what God is trying to tell us? Are we struggling with where God is at in our lives and what He desires for us?
Remember that unlike our world where things break and sometimes we feel isolated and think that God’s phone line is broken—rejoice that it is not, and we are free and able to come into God’s presence all the time with everything and anything that is on our mind. Connect with God today!!
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