Just ask... Prayer Pointers

I've noticed phrases like these pop up in action flicks pretty regularly. The hero usually tries with all their might 3-4 different strategies and nothing seems to work. Then someone in the group says with a defeated sigh, "There's nothing more we can do. All we can do now is pray." From my perspective this is more than a little up-side-down and backwards.

Why do we have such a hard time coming to God in prayer first? Surveys will tell you these are the reasons:

Don’t have time.                        Doubt if it does any good.

Not important, no great needs.   Satan is opposing it.

Don’t know how to pray.            Trying to avoid God.

I have therapist to talk to.           Don’t care enough for others

Perhaps some of these have prevented you from going to God first with an issue. Instead of dwelling on sins Jesus paid for let's remember the privilege and value that prayer really is. Every Christian has the following promises from Jesus.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. -- John 15:7-8

 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. -- Luke 11: 9, 10

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”  -- Mark 10:27

Prayer is an awesome blessing and powerful because it is talking to an awesome God. I encourage you to pray first and then take action on whatever you're facing today.

And at St. Mark we love to pray for people. If you would like to be on our prayer team or be prayed for please email us at: stmark_prayers@hotmail.com