It's a busy week. More than usual. (Directing VBS, coordinating a joint school food service program, fixing phone system and computer problems, calling the repair man for the broken garage door, preparing for a funeral, making worship DVDs, preparing for a wedding, and making adjustments to the payroll system, etc.)
Is your week busy?
As I was preparing for this week's prayer group, God confronted me personally.
Even in my extremely stressful time, God talked via John 16:23 John 16:23 and Martin Luther.
Jesus said in John 16:23, "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."
Luther said, in his explanation of this verse, "You are to look closely at this command to pray and stress it. You should not consider prayer an optional work and act as if it were no sin for you not to pray-- as if it were enough that others pray. You should know God earnestly commands us to pray with the threat of his supreme displeasure and punishment if it is neglected. His command to pray is the same as his command to have no other gods, not to blaspheme, not to abuse God's name, and to confess preach, laud and praise his name. He who does not do this should know that he is not Christian and does not belong in the kingdom of God."
I realized that I have sinned.
Maybe you too?
As I looked back in my life, I see that my prayer life has fallen.
I used to pray more and with more people. In fact, I used to lead prayer groups.
While I'm still praying, it's not like I used to.
For me, God has given me today's reminder and the opportunity to be part of St. Matthew's prayer ministry, to bring me closer to him and to rekindle my desire to pray.
In my day and week that is so full, God spoke and I prayed.
How is God working in your life?
How has God spoken to you via John 16:23?
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1 comments:
I just preached on Luke 21:25-31 ending on the great gift of prayer. Yet 3 days later I was in the midst of a busy week and had not taken it all to God in prayer.
What a relief to hear Jesus say that God will hear and answer prayer, because we think the work of the LORD doesn't seem to get done without us putting insane amount of hours/effort in. Prayer relieves us of us.
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