30 Days of Prayer: A Note from our Senior Pastor

AN INTRODUCTION TO 30 DAYS OF PRAYER: A NOTE FROM OUR SENIOR PASTOR

A crisis can serve to point us in the right direction. It also can be a catalyst that places our focus on what truly matters most. These past several weeks have made me more sensitive to the needs of my family. Because we are living together more closely than ever, I find myself more aware of what my kids say, feel, and experience. We are more in tune with each other.

I also have been reminded how much I need the Lord to provide me with wisdom, insight, discernment, and peace. My prayers are different today than they were a few weeks ago. I find myself praying more desperate prayers, as well as grateful prayers.  While sitting in this weird and crazy time, I am discovering a deeper wonder of the ways the Lord provides me with a sense of confidence that He is doing a new work. My prayers have become more practical, meaningful, and much more frequent.

We are told in Scripture to “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12), and to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This simply means to pray reoccurring prayers.

So, how’s your prayer life going? Do you find yourself praying more often? Do you find yourself praying what I call “in-this-moment prayers”? Are your times with God focused more on desperate prayers? Are you praying more for peace, perspective, patience, or provision? I do hope we all are more real, raw, honest, and honoring in our times with the Father. He cares. He wants to hear from us. He wants to hear from you.

I appreciate what Richard Foster writes: “Do you know why the mighty God of the universe chooses to answer prayer? It is because his children ask. God delights in our asking. He is pleased at our asking. His heart is warmed by our asking.”

I will be prioritizing prayer over the next 30 days, and I invite you to do the same. We have a wonderful team of people throughout Pathway who have contributed to the thoughtful posts that will show up here every day. I hope you’ll meet us here, and more importantly, that you’ll meet the Father in prayer regularly over the coming month.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I pray we would learn from each other through this journey. May we become people who humble ourselves and pray for your mighty and good work to be done in our nation, our world, our church and our homes. Create in us a deeper love for you, a greater passion for prayer, and strengthen our church body as we care and pray for each other. May we learn how to run to our Heavenly Father who longs to hear from us and meet us in our everyday challenges, as well as our moments of deep celebration and joy. In your powerful name Lord Jesus. Amen.