This coming year the theme for the Pacific Conference is “IMPACT.”  We can only make an impact as we depend on God. Someone said, “Prayer can do anything God can do.” 

The call to pray is one of Scripture’s most commonly mentioned commands.

^“The first thing I want you to do is pray.” (1 Timothy 2:1)
“Devote ourselves to prayer.” (Colossians 4:2)
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

What’s the point? Prayer must be the foundation of everything we do!

LET’S TALK….

Max Lucado reminds us that “our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”

Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.

-Max Lucado

Here is why prayer should be a priority this coming year!

1.  Prayer is relying on God.

We live in a self-sufficient culture that values independent thinking and living.  Prayer is the opposite of doing things by ourselves.  Prayer relies on God.

I love Paul’s admission to his own insecurities: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God” (2 Cor. 3:5).

One of the greatest barriers to prayer is our independence and self-reliance.   We will find it hard to pray when we rely on ourselves rather than God.

Nothing is better than prayer because, when we pray, we are saying, “God, I need you!  I am coming to you because I depend on you!”

2.  Prayer is relating with God.

You can’t know someone without being with them. That’s true –of friendship, of marriage, of business—you must spend time together. That’s also true with God.

Prayer is the way we spend time with God.

Here’s God’s invitation: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NKJV)

God desires our fellowship. He wants to have us spend time with Him.  The more we love God, the more we’ll delight in being with Him.  How much do you love God?  How much time do you spend with him?

I remember in college having a very brief conversation with Billy Graham.  I was awestruck! But, I was also convicted.  Talking with Billy Graham was terrific, but it is nothing compared to talking with God. Prayer is our highest privilege as a human being!

Nothing is better than prayer because prayer is a chance to be with God!

3.  Prayer is requesting of God.

God wants us to talk to him about our needs!! Praying is turning our needs upward to God!

Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers” (TLB). I wonder why it’s so easy to worry and so difficult to pray.

Over 20 times in the New Testament, we are asked to ask!!  God designed it that way. Nothing is better than prayer because prayer is how we ask God to meet our needs.

4.  Prayer is responding to God.

Ultimately prayer is a response to God. Someone said that prayer is not giving God orders; it is reporting for duty. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray, “May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10 (NLT).

When we pray, we say, “God – I want your will to be done!” Real praying is submitting to God and His will.

If you were to search through the New Testament for things God did that were not tied to prayer, do you know what you’d find? Nothing. Everything God does in the work of ministry He does through prayer.

BEFORE YOU GO…

We need to pray more because we need more of God! Here are two opportunities the Conference has for pastors and staff to pray more this coming year:

1. TOUCH BASE TUESDAYS. All our pastors and staff are invited to a half hour zoom meeting every Tuesday from 8:30-9:30 am. You can email Nancy and ask for a link (nancy@thepacificconference.com).

• PASTORS’ PRAYER RETREAT. This event will be held at Cannon Beach, February 28 -March 2.  Pastors, you can contact Jim Dahrens for more information by emailing him at psalm1121@gmail.com