Looking Back on Sunday 9/18

We all have seasons of life when it feels like God is 1 million miles away. Have you ever felt that way? You know, like your prayers can’t get past the ceiling? Or, you read your Bible, but, somehow you just don’t feel nourished spiritually. There are many reasons that we feel that way from time to time. For me, Sunday at LifePoint Stewarts Creek was anything but that. In fact, the presence of God was very clearly evident during both services. Many of our folks, offered their very best to God as we worshipped corporately. As a pastor, it’s an amazing thing to see those God has entrusted to your leadership, respond the way our folks did yesterday! So, if that was you, thank you for your response to God’s glory.

Pat Hood preached one of the most impactful messages I’ve heard in a while. The bottom line question was, “Are we desperate for the presence of God in our lives and in our church?” What a great question. I want us to be people who are desperate for the Lord in all areas of our lives, people who can’t live without Him. Further, I want us to be a faith family who is desperate for the presence of God, recognizing that without Him, we’re sunk. No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, here are a few ways I want us respond this week as we think about taking steps to becoming increasingly desperate for the Lord:

1. Set aside time each day to pray. Jesus did when He was on this Earth. And if He needed to, how much more do we? I personally like to get up before everyone else in my family does and spend time praying. Maybe that doesn’t work for you. That’s ok. Find a time that does.
2. Utilize LifePoint’s Prayer wall. It’s a virtual prayer request line and a simple way to have hundreds of people praying for your specific needs and to pray for others. Check it out here.
3. Sign up for the Enews. If you attended worship yesterday, you heard Pat say that we are developing a system for you to pray for our teams in Bangkok, Brussels, Seattle, and other places. We will send you updates of how you can connect with that system via the Enews. If you’re not signed up, you can do so here.
4. Pray for your pastor. If the enemy can take out the general, he can take out the whole army. Be sure you are constantly lifting up Pat and our entire staff in prayer.
5. Ask yourself this question: Am I more desperate for the presence of God today than I was yesterday?  In my finances, in my parenting, in my vocation, in my small group, as I invest in my neighbors, etc., am I more desperate for the presence of God today than yesterday? Ask yourself that question every day several times a day.

I believe that many times, the only thing standing in the way of God doing a mighty work in our lives, our kids lives, our small group, and our church is merely us asking God to do it. In other words, many times, God accomplishing His perfect will is dependent upon us asking Him to do it. Are we?

I’d love to hear back from you.