Good Morning All!!
Jeremiah 29:12; “Then you will call
upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”
There probably isn’t a bigger “landlubber” than I am. The numbers of times I have been on a boat
are very few. So when I was talking to a
man who made his life on a boat; it was something of an eye opening experience. This man made his life catching shrimp. He knew everything about shrimping and
boating. As we talked I used the word “boat”
and “ship” interchangeably. He asked me
if I knew there was a difference between a ship and a boat. I had no clue but I guessed it was the size
of the “vessel.”
He told me that a ship actually carries a second boat with it; a boat does
not. The ship carries this lifeboat. Now most ships go their entire time of
service with never having to use the lifeboat, the entire time is spent in the
ship but not the boat. The lifeboat is
there if ever needed but mostly just ignored.
Is prayer a lifeboat or is it the ship? For many, it is a lifeboat. It is something that you use only in an
emergency situation. You have a doctor’s
appointment about a potentially serious illness. One of your loved ones is seriously ill. Perhaps your job is in limbo. Perhaps you are having relationship issues. Now there is nothing wrong with turning to
prayer in times of distress but God intends it to be much more. Rather than just a lifeboat; God desires that
we use prayer on our ship.
God offers us prayer so that we have a way to navigate our ship. Through prayer, we seek God’s direction and
guidance. We keep his will in our heart
and plans. We do not have to wait until
it looks like everything is lost before we pray. God invites us to pray so that we might know
his peace; that his grace would keep us on an even keel. God invites us to be in communion with him
every day. God desires that we pray for
all things and for all people. God
desires that our prayers be prayers of joy and thanksgiving just as much as
prayers of need or fear. God will give
us peace and comfort; God gives us hope.
God will right the ship and keep it sailing and our prayers will sing to
him praises for his answers.
God invites us to be in constant contact with him like the sailing of
the ship. God invites us to pray every
day and not just at times of trouble. By
keeping in this constant communication going, we utilize one of God’s greatest
gifts. He invites us to know his
peace. Trust in God’s promise and pray
to him every day.
Gracious
Father, in you do we find our strength and our hope. You lead us on the paths of
righteousness. Keep us safe in your
loving arms. Lead us to pray constantly,
lifting our desires and our fears, our dreams and our worries to you. Comfort the hurt and the suffering; give hope
to the broken. Direct us by your
will. In the precious name of Jesus we
pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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