Morning Message: June 4

Christianity began roughly two thousand years ago, shortly after the death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ.  Early Christian services consisted mainly of preaching and performing Baptisms.  They celebrated the Lord’s Supper each time they gathered together.  But soon early Christians were being persecuted by the Romans.  St. Paul wrote letters to these early Christians assuring them that the Spirit was with them, to strengthen, heal, and protect them.

A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans.

The Spirit of Jesus Christ helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with signs too deep for words.  And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Think about this silently in your heart.  The Spirit is always present to help us also.  Is there something you would like to ask for help with?

We should be encouraged to pray.  We won’t fully understand the mystery of prayer in this life, but we know that the Lord commands us to pray.  He encourages us with the truth that the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, tenderly takes our prayers and directs them according to God’s will before His throne.  Don’t let the fact that you don’t know how to pray as you should discourage you from praying.  Don’t let the fact that prayer isn’t easy discourage you from praying. And don’t let the fact that your prayers don’t seem to be answered keep you from praying.

We must be careful about judging the prayers of others. A sincere prayer whether offered by the child who prays for their puppy, the adult who has trouble speaking in public, the Pastor who prays long (and sometimes too long!), or the seasoned saint who speaks a few words that are filled with intimacy and carry the sense of the Spirit’s power; each of these prayers is welcomed by the Father.

We need to think differently about prayer.  It’s like an education.  Sometimes we conclude that the person with the best grades or most degrees is the most educated.   That’s not always the case.  Some people don’t do well with tests.  Some people learn more from experience than from books.  Some people have a lifestyle of learning.  We must not judge a person’s education or ability simply by the certificates on their wall.  In the same way we must not judge a prayer by the words, but by the heart.

The point is God doesn’t want us putting our focus on how we pray to God.  He wants us to focus on whom we are talking TO!  When we focus on the Lord we will be able to stop focusing on our words and simply enjoy our conversation with our Father.

Loving God, we trust that you know what is in our hearts.  Help us to turn to you, even when we are confused or do not know how to pray.  Amen.