We are encouraging everyone to be a part of a week of prayer for Kenmore that begins tonight. If you are physically able, we invite you to come to pray in Kenmore for at least one hour in the coming seven days.
You can find out more informaiton about the event by clicking here.
You can sign up to pray at one of the four locations in Kenmore by clicking here. If you would like to pray at Goss during that time, please let us know and we will arrange it.
The point of this post is to encourage you to think about what pryaer is NOT.
1. It is possible to pray during this week (or anytime) in ways that are totally about us. Prayer is NOT totally about us.
Actually, prayer is about God. He is the one who can answer prayer. Jesus listens to our prayers, on His authority, because He died for our sins and allows anytime access to God in prayer.
These things are NOT about us. They are about what God has done, and any prayer we offer should be based on the simple fact that God is worthy to be pursued because He is who He is and He won't change.
2. Sometimes people pray to God when they want something. Prayer is NOT about us "getting something" from God.
God is NOT a vending machine. Prayer is not like 85 cents that you put in and push a button to buy a pack of Skittles.
Do you have people in your life who only seem to talk to you when they want something? What is your attitude toward them? Don't you wish they would enjoy getting to know you?
If we only go to God with what we're asking, then we show our interest to be one-sided. Prayer should be based on who God is, and us coming to God to have fellowship with Him.
Remember how the Lord's prayer starts: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name . . .
3. Sometimes people think of prayer like they think of a homework assignment. Prayer is NOT something you do and then just move on to the next thing.
We are commanded to pray without ceasing. Not that we should be on our knees with our eyes closed before God 24 hours per day. We wouldn't get much done if that was the case.
But to understand "pray without ceasing" in I Thessalonians 5:17, we need to realize that communication with God is something that can always guide our thoughts, words, and actions, even if we're not talking directly to God.
To sum up:
So, this prayer week isn't a thing to complete. This prayer week should lead us deeper in our relationship with God, deeper into our knowledge of Him, deeper into wanting to spend time with Him.
Will we ask Him for peace? Yes. But "asking" is only part of our desire for our own growth and the growth of our community.