Connect to God

January 19, 2011 Messenger Article

Consider this thought for a moment: we can know and enjoy a relationship with God.

Isn’t that an extraordinary concept?

The Lord of the Universe has chosen to reveal Himself to us so that w e might have fellowship with Him. With this opportunity comes great responsibility. We are called to make this relationship the priority of our lives and to cultivate it daily.

This year, I have challenged us to connect to God specifically through the avenue of prayer. What better way to further a relationship than to communicate with the other person? My desire is that we would spend at least ten minutes each ay praying to the Lord so that we might come to a greater knowledge of Him.

You may ask, “But what should I pray during these moments?” Just be real. God knows who you are already, so don’t try to hide your thoughts and motivations. Pour your heart out to Him. And if you need some more guidance, let me suggest some other areas you might touch on in your prayer life:

Confession: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NJKV)

Thanksgiving: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV)

Wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 NKJV)

Strength: “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.” (Psalm 138:3 NKJV)

Intercession: “Moreover as for me God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” (I Samuel 12:23a NKJV)

This is a very short list of topics you might consider as you pray. Your heart may lead you to other issues as well. As to intercession, I do want to encourage you to pray for the world this year. You can do it in a number of ways. For example, the late Dr. Adrian Rogers would pray each morning for a specific area of the world, so that by the end of the week, he would have prayed for the whole world. Another resource in this endeavor is the book by Patrick Johnstone, Operation World. No matter what else you choose, just PRAY!

Reminder:
Don’t forget to sign up to pray during one of the morning worship services. You will become a gatekeeper who prays for clarity, power, and response while I preach God’s Word. Hopefully, this will be an incredible time of renewal for you also. (Note: this is not an “every Sunday” responsibility for you. As people respond to this challenge, you will be called on to participate once over a period of a few months.