Pray

Zion Memorial Church Family,

In all things and at all times, we should know that God is interested in what is going on in our lives. With our family and friends, when we have things that are going on that are important to us, we share with them. Why? Whether we consciously recognize it or not, it is because we believe that they care enough about us to be interested in what is of interest to us. Otherwise, we would not share with them.

Beloved, God is interested in everything that is going on in our lives. Why should we believe that? It was not until God breathed life-giving spirit into the body of Adam that he became a living soul. God put a part of God into Adam and a part of God is in every human being. And, God surely cares about His creation and desires to stay connected to His creation.

When we connect with God through Jesus the Christ as guided by the Holy Spirit, we are willingly reconnecting with God.

How do we earnestly, consistently, and persistently do so? It happens when we pray.

When we pray, something happens, something changes, something moves.

When we pray, God hears us.

When we pray, God responds to us.

When we pray, God sends blessings from heaven to be revealed here on earth.

In 2 Colossians 4:2, the Apostle Paul wrote,

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving."

You should pray about everything, all the time, everywhere.

And, when you pray, you should do so with a heart of expectation that God is going to do something and that thing that God is going to do is for your best and is worthy of you giving thanks, praise, honor and glory to God.

Having a constant attitude of thanksgiving before God, irrespective of circumstances, is the best way to have a good and growing relationship with God.

You may not like what is happening in the life of your family, friends, or even your own. Your health, wealth, and relationships may not be what you want them to be. You may not be where you desire to be spiritually, emotionally, mentally, or physically.

You have a choice. You can handle it. Or, you can take it to God in prayer.

If you have tried it your way and it works, keep at it. God bless you.

If you have tried it your and it does not work, it may be time to change things. God changes things. And, God typically changes things when you get out of the way and hand things over to God...when you pray.

Devoting yourself to prayer is not for the crisis. You see the crisis in your life is surely coming. Life has a way of having us meet crisis, go through crisis, and get out of crisis. And, then it repeats.

And, how you will be able to deal with the certainty of crisis is based on how you prepare yourself.

Pray before the crisis. Pray during the crisis. Pray after the crisis. If you do this all the time, two things will occur.

First, you will handle crisis much better because of your assurance that God is with you.

Second, you will likely cease to see crisis as simply crisis but more so as an opportunity for God to be revealed. You will see a crisis with thanksgiving in your heart because you will know that as surely as there is a crisis, there is also surely truth in knowing that "Christ is".

Because "Christ is", you always have God on your side when you face a crisis.

And, the best way to keep God on your side is to pray. Therefore, pray.

Tonight, during our first summer mini lesson for H.O.P.E. Wednesday, we will be studying, "Being A Witness Outside The Four Walls".

I encourage you to come as you said that you would. I encourage you to bring somebody who needs to hear more about this topic as well as who needs to just spend some time with some praying people who love God.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

And, remember, God loves you and I love you too.

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain