Prayer

Prayer

Why do we pray? I’ve sometime asked myself this question. Why? I know God is all knowing, so what’s the point if God all ready knows what I’m going to pray about? What’s the point in praying then? Well, I don’t pray because God needs to know what’s going on in my life. I don’t pray because I have to and that’s how God’s will is done. That isn’t why I pray. I pray because I need God. I pray because it changes me, and I want to invite God into my life. Basically, I want to involve him in what I’m doing, like my work and ministry, and my family and recreation. 

The amazing thing is that we can pray in different ways. Something that I will be doing soon is moving into our new home. And one of the first things I plan to do as a family is to pray over each room in our new house. I want to teach my children how to pray, and how we can invite God into our lives. I see our new home as a place where Joshua 24:15: “As for me and my household we will serve the LORD.” will be known in every room. Each room serves its purpose, and we will pray God’s protection and love over each of those rooms, even the closets. 

Another great way to pray is to pray the Lord’s Prayer. It’s simple yet full of rich meaning and it was from the risen Lord himself. This is what we did as a church this April. We gathered together to pray for each other, for other friends and families in the church, for all the leaders and elders, and for the future of FBC. And it was done in a way that was refreshing and creative. We used the Lord’s Prayer as our guide and went through each aspect it touches and applied it to ourselves and to the church. It was an amazing time to praise God, and to do what Paul directs the church to do: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6. 

We are in a time of transition and its normal to feel anxious about the future. But remember we serve a LORD who is mighty and has a plan. Jesus addresses this in his lengthy sermon on the mount, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:31-34. 

I believe it is a call where God is speaking to us, and we can answer back with our hearts desires and present him with our requests. Will he answer us? I think so, it’s happen before. We just need to be faithful to him. For myself and you, I have a challenge where we will answer back to God and give him our time and desires of our hearts. That we would petition for God’s Kingdom to come upon First Baptist Church with a new Senior Pastor and to enrich us with his growing vision for our congregation. 

Let’s pray together as one, because we are one in the Spirit of the LORD. Amen. 

P.S. If you want to pray with others from FBC, you can join us each Sunday morning in the Pastor’s office for prayer. Anytime between 9:30 and 10:30am. Also, we will be gathering again on May 4th to pray for the Search Committee, all the candidates who apply, the Elders and Leadership teams, as well as our growing vision and direction as a church. That will be at 7pm. Thank you and may the LORD bless you ~ Pastor Eric