Prayer - Its not just for dinner any more

What is Prayer?
Webster’s dictionary says prayer is an address (as a petition) to God in word or thought. Prayer involves all 3 aspects of the Godhead. We pray to the Father, through the Son by the Holy Spirit.
While there are no specific requirements for how we are to pray (see Num 16:22, I Kings 8:22-23, I Chron 21:16, Psa. 28:2 and Luke 22:41) Jesus makes in clear in Matt 6:5-8 on how we are not to pray.

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men…And when you pray do not use vain repetitions like the heathen do. For they think they will be heard by their many words. Therefore do not be like them…”
Matt 6:5-8 NKJV

Is it ok to pray in public? Sure, but we don’t do it to draw attention to ourselves. Prayer in a public setting should not be an act that points to us but to God alone. Our public prayer life can be an instrument of evangelism. We must be careful though pray to God and not pray at others around us.
What about vs. 7 where it tells us not to use vain repetitions? We address God as our father. God is referred to as father over 200 times in the New Testament. While we are counted as “friends of God” we still approach His throne with reverence and grace through the mercy of His son Jesus. Many times in prayer this is taken to the extreme. We begin “Dear Father”, and repeat this phrase numerous times before we ever really get into our prayer. Try that the next time you talk with someone. “Hi Tom, how are you Tom? Tom I had a great day today Tom. Wow Tom I like talking to you my friend Tom. Tom it is so nice spending time with you Tom and Tom I like that we are friends Tom oh my friend Tom.” Sound silly doesn’t it? Don’t use vain repetitions in prayer, come humbly before God your Father and make your requests to Him with a pure heart that is motivated by His will, not our own.
Jesus cried out in the Garden of Gethsemane that this cup may pass from Him, however he also said “Not my will but Yours be done.” God wants to hear our hearts, God already knows our heart but there is a certain intimacy that comes with vocalizing our desires to Him. But, we must remember that not our will, but His be done. Are you ok with that? Can you pray in a manner where you are completely open, honest and vulnerable to hear God’s no? Are you patient in prayer and understand that answers sometimes come slowly or seemingly not at all?
I Thess 5:17-18 says “pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We all want to know God’s will for our lives. Pray. Simply pray and you are in God’s will. When we teach our minds to pray without ceasing we will begin to understand God’s thoughts and purposes for our lives and we will have a much easier time distinguishing our own desire from His will.
My prayer for you is that you will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

My challenge for you this week is to pray with your spouse every day. If you already do this then look at scripture on prayer and see how God can take you deeper into your prayer life.

Vision, Purpose, Model.... Its all about God anyway!

Wow, what a great class this morning. Thanks to all of you "pioneers" who joined us. We are excited and humbled to serve along side of you guys as we join together on our marriage journeys. Our focus is to use our marriages to light a lost and dying world and we do that through prayer, fellowship and Bible study.

Please be in prayer as to how you can serve. We have lots of opportunities to get plugged in. Thanks to the Caverlys for heading up the inreach area by doing calls and post cards. The Williams and Vicks are going to work together to plan our social events throughout the year. Theresa Fitzsimons has graciously offered to help out with any medical situtations that may come up. She has been an ER nurse and can use those skills to serve others. She has offered to help out for moms who may have Dr's appts and need some help with kids in waiting rooms or to give rides if there are emergencies that come up.

Please be in prayer about the Engage Day coming up on Sept. 13. We need ideas of a project we can do together as a class and we still need someone to take the reigns and coordinate our project. In the mean time please send me any suggestions you may have for service. Please keep in mind that we want to reach the lost with our love and service and also try to do something that the kids can be involved in as well.

Thanks again for stepping out in faith to come with us. We love each of you guys and we can't wait to grow and deepen those relationships with you even more. As I pray for each of you this week I will be praying that your marriages can be so much one together that you are no threat. Now, go be naked and not ashamed! (you knew it was coming sometime)

Salt and Light,

Billy

Sunday's on the way!

Pray for Sunday. As I sit here and write this there are about 2 1/2 days until we meet together as a brand new class. I am excited about what God is going to do in us and through us as a class. I have been praying for each of you that will be there this week (not even knowing who that may be.) God has an amazing way of taking my own plans and expectations and squashing them only to leave me amazed at what His plans are. I don't know if there will be 2 people there or 20 but I do know this, God has chosen each person that will be in that room Sunday morning and I am excited to see who He has hand picked to serve Him along side Michelle and me.
Come in expectation of the Holy Spirit to do a mighty work in us and through us.
Salt and Light,
Billy

Another Adoption!!!

We are excited to let you all know that I had the incredible privilege of leading our daughter Maddy to Christ tonight. We had the Lord's Supper at church this morning and she was upset because she couldn't take part. I told her that we would talk about it this evening and explain to her what was happening. She had lots of questions but also knew the answers to a lot of them too. God is so good to allow Michelle and I the privilege of leading 2 of our children to Christ at a young age. Please pray for us and for Maddy as she begins her new life in Christ as a fellow heir to the throne of grace.