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Praying to our Heavenly Father

27/05/2012

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Why don’t we pray?  There’s a question to induce guilt in most Christians!  If you’re anything like me, you are plagued by a constant, nagging sense of failure in the praying department, and although you want to pray more, you never quite seem to manage it.

Just to make things worse, here’s a paraphrase from Calvin’s Institutes:

Not bothering to come to God (who is good and kind, and is delighted when we come to him) to ask him for help and bring our needs to him, is crazy!  It’s like knowing that there is a treasure chest buried in your garden and not bothering to dig it up!

So prayer is something to treasure and enjoy…really?

If we think of it as an activity or routine, it’s not that appealing, but if we lift our focus from the activity to the one who we are praying to, then it becomes much more exciting!

‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!’ (Matthew 7:9-11)

Because Jesus died and rose for us, we are God’s children!  He loves us, and loves to give good things to us.  He wants us to come and speak to him because in speaking to him we exercise our dependence on him, and we learn what a generous, trustworthy God he is.

Prayer is not an activity to be done; it’s an expression of our faith and dependence in our Heavenly Father.  It’s how we relate to God.
Jez Lowries

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Prayer: Personal Communication with God

25/09/2011

 
As BT's advertisements used to say, ‘It’s Good to Talk’. Whether nattering with old friends, or catching up with relatives - in our digital age, isn’t talking wonderful? And how extraordinary to think that God wants us to talk to him too - what a privilege!

Throughout the gospel accounts, Jesus is often found retreating somewhere quiet to spend time talking to his father in heaven. When he wrestled with the prospect of the crucifixion, he prayed, with the result that he was empowered and committed to trusting his father’s will (see Mark 14.32-42).

And praying not only reflects that we are in a trusting relationship with God, but the Bible teaches us that when we pray, God acts. Our prayers have an eternal impact - crumbs! That should encourage us to pray more!

So, let’s get praying! It’s a vital part of our life as a church family and we’re going to pray 24 hours a day, for a whole week in the Tiger Crypt: October 24th-30th. 

Why the need for such a week in one venue, rather than at home alone? Well, the room will mean: no phones ringing, doorbells bing-bonging or children playing! There will be ideas of what to pray for around the room, so we’ll be united in our prayer topics for a week. And, it’s a great way for individuals, families and Connect Groups, to devote a chunk of time to be spent with our heavenly father, who delights in his children talking to him.

Look out for the sign up sheet, and let’s seize this opportunity, amid frenetic lives, to spend time talking to our wonderful father in heaven and being involved in eternal activities!

Adam Pymble