S.O.S.
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
Charles Spurgeon says that, “neglect of private prayer is the locust which devours the strength of the church.”
By God’s grace He has given us the most incredible gift which is His ear. If we were to pick up our phone and try to call the Prime Minister of Australia, let alone the President of the United States - we wouldn’t expect to get even close. But the God of the universe is willing to listen.
God has promised not only to listen but to act. In the past He has responded to the prayers of God’s people with salvation, comfort, support and justice. We can have confidence that God answers prayer when it is in accord with His will.
I feel a personal conviction in this. Prayer has not historically been something I have found easy. Like many of you, I get distracted easily and too easily find ‘more urgent’ things to do.
Lately I have been deeply convicted of prayer. I’ve grown a stronger habit of personal prayer. And I’m convinced that we need to grow a stronger habit of prayer on a Sunday.
What a wonderful thing it would be if it was normal that we pray for one another on a Sunday. That as we share our news of the week that we would turn to God in praise, thanksgiving, lament and petition.
That we would regularly cry out to God for help to flee sin. For the repentance of sinners. For the mercy of God to sufferers.
Do you want this? Let’s make it happen together.
Let’s do two things.
Let’s ASK - people to pray for us when we share.
Let’s OFFER - to pray for others when they share.
Let’s be a prayerful Church.
For Today:
Pray: Praise the Father that He hears our prayers. Give thanks for Jesus who gives us the right to pray through our salvation and adoption. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others be prayerful rather than prayerless.
James 5:16
Charles Spurgeon says that, “neglect of private prayer is the locust which devours the strength of the church.”
By God’s grace He has given us the most incredible gift which is His ear. If we were to pick up our phone and try to call the Prime Minister of Australia, let alone the President of the United States - we wouldn’t expect to get even close. But the God of the universe is willing to listen.
God has promised not only to listen but to act. In the past He has responded to the prayers of God’s people with salvation, comfort, support and justice. We can have confidence that God answers prayer when it is in accord with His will.
I feel a personal conviction in this. Prayer has not historically been something I have found easy. Like many of you, I get distracted easily and too easily find ‘more urgent’ things to do.
Lately I have been deeply convicted of prayer. I’ve grown a stronger habit of personal prayer. And I’m convinced that we need to grow a stronger habit of prayer on a Sunday.
What a wonderful thing it would be if it was normal that we pray for one another on a Sunday. That as we share our news of the week that we would turn to God in praise, thanksgiving, lament and petition.
That we would regularly cry out to God for help to flee sin. For the repentance of sinners. For the mercy of God to sufferers.
Do you want this? Let’s make it happen together.
Let’s do two things.
Let’s ASK - people to pray for us when we share.
Let’s OFFER - to pray for others when they share.
Let’s be a prayerful Church.
For Today:
- Do you struggle with prayer? Why? Why not?
- What prayers has God answered? Do you reflect on answered prayer?
- Commit to asking & offering for prayer this Sunday.
Pray: Praise the Father that He hears our prayers. Give thanks for Jesus who gives us the right to pray through our salvation and adoption. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others be prayerful rather than prayerless.
Posted in Save Our Sundays
No Comments