8-3-2022

Good Morning!    

         Matthew 6:6; “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

    I remember a story about a little boy who had a hard time in school.  He wasn’t that popular; he wasn’t that smart, and he wasn’t that athletic.  He didn’t have the newest clothes or toys and he never had any money to buy anything at the store.  Most days he would just kind of mope through the day except on Thursdays.  On Thursdays, he seemed a little more alive, a little happier with life.  He would hurry home from school because it was Thursday.  He loved Thursdays because on Thursday his mother would take the eggs she had collected into town and sold them.  After she did this, she would buy him a piece of hard candy.  When he got home, his mother would give him some lemonade and the piece of candy.  Then they would sit and talk about the day and what was happening.  Thursdays were all right; it made up for the rest of the week.

    The little boy had something to look forward to and he saw it as a time of leaving the boring and sometimes painful day behind.  He loved the quiet time with his mother.  He liked the candy and the lemonade.  He liked telling his mother about the day and how she listened and would make him laugh.  We all need times like that.  We need times when we can get away from the weight of the day.  We need some time to refresh our batteries.  For us as Christians, we have a thing that we call prayer that can serve the purpose well.

   When Jesus told his disciples to go into the room and close the door, it was not out of embarrassment or fear.  Rather it is meant to bring about our focus.  We do not need or want any distractions at this time.  This includes praying in a manner that is more designed to impress the world rather than open our heart to God.  It can be a time of great healing for us as we speak of our fears and our sorrows and though we know that Jesus isn’t a genie who grants us wishes and solves all our problems and he is not an ATM machine that simply spits out rewards for prayer. God’s plan is too big for that, and somehow it includes the hard times as well as the good times. But Jesus does promise never to leave us or forsake us, and sensing that kind of closeness in prayer can be a powerful thing for us when we too feel accepted, loved, and cared for.

    We may face struggles and pain, but we do not face them alone.  With prayer, especially if we take time to truly pray, more than a quick thank you for lunch or a short “I need” petition but rather a time of prayer that is regularly scheduled; we can feel a closeness to God that may be absent otherwise.  Regular daily prayer can train our mind to seek God and his peace and hope first and by seeking him first; we will find the contentment that we desire.

Father, we look to you for all of our needs and you fill them. Lead us by your Spirit to seek a closer time with you and a deeper sense of hope in your Word. Lead us to know that you hear us and that you answer our prayers. You know the plans that you have for us, and they are plans to prosper us.  Lead us to trust this promise. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret