By Ally B
Last Tuesday was AMAZING! If you weren’t there definitely go back and check it out online.
The message was about how communication is the most important aspect of a relationship. This includes our relationship with God. How then do we communicate with our Father? Through prayer. When? Continually…
"And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." ~1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise." ~James 5:13
When I think about life in general I can see so clearly how important communication is. Lack of communication can cause so much pain and confusion in our lives whether at work, with family/friends, and in relationships. Recently I was thinking about how lack of communication can hurt more than just hearing the truth. I can only imagine how God must feel when we continually chose to ignore him and not communicate. Maybe you don’t feel like you can pray to God because you aren’t sure he’s really there and listening or you don’t know what or how to pray. I’ve been there.
There was a point in my life where I wasn’t honestly communicating with anyone. I didn’t let anyone know the truth about how sad and broken I was, including God. The Lord used JP to share with me the Gospel, and used him to encourage me about how our Father wants a relationship with us no matter how broken we are, or how many times we’ve turned our backs on Him. I remembering not really knowing what or how to pray, but just praying to God that I needed help, I need Jesus Christ as my Savior, and wanted a relationship with Him. The Lord totally answered, and has continued to as I've been in relationship with Him.
You see God is faithful even when we are faithless.(2 Timothy 2:13) God doesn’t ignore us, even though we’ve ignore Him and others (Matthew 22:37-39). A relationship with Christ gives you more than any other relationship can. The Lord saves! Restores! Redeems! Gives you peace, mercy, joy, and grace! I love when JP said, “Sometimes people don't have a right relationship with God, but want him to be their magician” and just fix things or give things. True faith is the belief in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and having a relationship with Him. Trusting that even when things may not make sense, He may be doing something bigger than you. Praising Him in good times and bad, and giving Him all the glory.
How’s your prayer life? Your Father loves you and would love to chat :)
Praying you will know the Lord and that He will know you. (Matthew 7:15-23)