Thinking about a New Year’s resolution? “

… for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him.”         -2 Timothy 1:12       

 Prayer is one of the most important aspects of our faith journey.  It’s important precisely because prayer is the conversation that we strike up with our Heavenly Father.  Much is communicated in prayer, our needs, our hopes, and our fears… none of these do we carry on our own; instead we share them with the One who is most certainly able to bear them.  Prayer comes in many forms.  Sometimes our prayers are silent, and sometimes they are said aloud.  Sometimes our prayers are lifted in the form of a hymn, and some prayers can be memorized like the Lord’s Prayer or parts of the liturgy.  All of these communications are directed toward the source of life and Savior of creation; and also give our gracious God a chance to speak to us.

So, does all this prayer really matter?  Does prayer really make a difference?  Please believe me when I tell you that it most certainly does.  There have been many studies done through the years, and it’s fascinating to see that those who have been prayed for often see dramatic results.  Even beyond the sheer statistical analysis many of us can speak from personal experience; when we’re consistently in prayer (no matter what form that may take) we have a sense of peace and comfort that pervades our lives.

That sense of peace and comfort can go a long way during this time of year.  That’s right, it’s bad enough that the joy and excitement of the twelve days of Christmas are winding to a close, but we haven’t really seen the sun since early December either.  We may also need that sense of peace and comfort to help us stick to our New Year’s resolutions.  Do you have any of those this year?  I’m trying to exercise more, but that’s a slam dunk with a new puppy (the latest addition to the Smail Family).           

Allow me to suggest just one New Year’s resolution to the whole congregation; how about prayer?  Now, hold on, I’m not just talking about prayer in general.  This isn’t just one more of those pastor pleas to the congregation to read the Bible and pray more often.  Instead, I would like you to do some serious thinking about this; please, take the time to choose a person in the congregation to pray for and resolve yourself to pray for them daily (at the very least, daily lift their name before our gracious God).  Perhaps it’s a close friend, or perhaps you open the directory and choose randomly, but choose someone and carry them in your heart and mind… sincerely pray for them.  In six months, when the sun is back out, the leaves are back on the trees, and the flowers are blooming once again, let that person know that you’ve been praying for them.           

And then we can have that all-important conversation, how has prayer made a difference?  Did you have a sense that someone was praying for you?  And how was the person that did the praying changed as well?  I’ll do my part, I’ll not only remember this little challenge, but I’ll also commit to this resolution myself.  When the time comes I’ll remind you to introduce yourselves to your prayer partners, and then we’ll let the meaningful conversations begin.  As the Scripture above suggests, we’ll entrust one another into God’s care, and then watch the wondrous ways in which God cares for what has been entrusted to Him.  Furthermore, we’ll see a faithful congregation that continues to look beyond personal needs to the needs of others.  Thanks in advance for your support and participation!                    

Yours in Christ,                                                                                   Pastor Dan