Pastor’s Message for May 2024

And they brought the boy to him. And when they spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening to him?” The man said, “From childhood, and it has often cast him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for the one who believes!” Immediately the father cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:20-24

Friends, how often do we go to prayer forgetting to whom it is we are praying?

Seems like an odd question, doesn’t it? If I am in prayer, of course I know that I am praying to the God who created the universe. Right? But sometimes our prayers are so weak, we seem to have forgotten that we are praying to the one who makes the stars shine, who creates galaxies, and who designs the intricacies of living things. So why is it that we would offer such wimpy prayers to the almighty one? In the scripture passage above found in Mark, Jesus seems offended that the boy’s father has such weak faith. I can imagine Jesus thinking: “If you can? Do you know who you’re talking to?”

Too often, our prayers sound something like this: “God… If it’s not too much trouble… And if you have a spare moment… Could you maybe, possibly do something to help out?”

Why are we afraid to pray with confidence and boldness? Don’t we believe what God can do, or do we feel that our needs are too great, or too insignificant? Perhaps we have the burden of our sin before us? Perhaps we have been told by someone that God will not answer us, or we are afraid of what God’s answer will be? Maybe we just don’t think we pray with enough eloquence, that God needs to be impressed with our showy words?

Friends, God hears every prayer. In fact, God has heard and remembers every prayer you have ever prayed. May I tell you that God is not impressed with eloquence? I might even go so far as to say that God delights in hearing your prayers! God wants us to pray boldly, with great expectations, so that God’s name might be glorified through our prayers. Pray that God will give you the boldness to pray God-sized prayers, and expect the impossible!

God loves you, and so do I,
Pastor Jim