Why Pray...

I have been struggling lately with my prayer life. Sometimes I feel invincible with my prayers knowing that God is listening and seeing them answered. I have felt sometimes as if I was just looking for someone or something to pray for because I knew where I was in my spiritual walk and that according to the promises of God He would hear and answer.

I don't say this with any intent of boasting since I am well aware the answers had everything to do with God and nothing to do with me other than I wanted to see God glorify Himself and make Himself known. Prayer takes time and effort and is usually not easy to do. There is way to much vying for our attention, it's difficult to put every thought in obedience to Christ, and it's hard to stay focused.

So what does prayer have to do with living out the message?? Your prayer life is a reflection of your dependence upon God... With that in mind, seriously examine yourself and figure out just how much you are depending on God. In order to effectively be the church, you must completely surrender and be dependent upon God for everything.

Have a blessed weekend.

Mike

What's that look like?

When you hear the term, "living out the message" what comes to mind? I think the modern church has missed the foundational truth that the Christian life is much more than a simple prayer and baptism. Jesus' instruction in Matthew 28 was to teach them to OBEY all that I have said, not to teach them what I said. It's one thing to know what is said and something totally different to live that truth in a practical way every day.

What God has shown me over the past 6 months or so is to take advantage of every person He puts in my path for that day. It could be a coworker, wife or one of my kids that I may need to minister to and disciple that day. It's not easy with the things that go on around us to be looking for someone to minster too, but I also don't see where we are to meet one day a week to train someone up in the way's of the Lord. Start your day with a prayer, asking God to use you to make a difference in someone's life, then watch and listen throughout the day for that person or persons in need. If you don't find someone then you probably aren't looking to hard.

GO is the command...
Living out the message is simply being Christ in your daily life. Be the church, equip others then send them out to be the church.