Today I'm going to bring it back to someone that I've had the privilege to hear speak at our church a while back and that is Larry Osborne. You may recognize him as the pastor of North Coast Church but he's also the author of Sticky Church and Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe. In this sermon he focuses on the most famous prayer of all...The Lord's Prayer.
Prayer can be different things to different people and have quite a different look or even purpose too. For example we as a family when we are together for dinner make it a point to take turns with the prayer. Now generally it starts as a debate as to who's turn it is but regardless our daughter does her prayer silently bowed down under the table in her seat but it always ends in Amen and a request for a 2nd prayer part way through our meal. Me personally I've grown more comfortable over the last few years with prayer; mainly through practice. In helping lead our weekly small group from church we focus on prayer to end each week and force each other to come up with something that we can pray for them for the coming week. It's generally easier to pray for someone else but asking for prayers can sometimes be hard because we are admitting we need help or that we are struggling with something. But that's what the community of fellow Christians is for...support and fellowship.
I've learned that prayer doesn't have to be pretty & eloquent. It just needs to be sincere and honest. We don't always have the perfect words because we'll find the fitting ones. It doesn't need to sound like we've been on the pulpit for years it just needs to be heard. Take the time to be honest and open because He already knows but sometimes we just need to humble ourselves and align our will with that of God's but most of all we just need to make the time and find a place to open our hearts and be still in His presence.
Faith & Prayer Part 9 (03-28-10) from North Coast Church on Vimeo.
No comments:
Post a Comment