Messenger

It’s that time again: a new year, with a new start, full of promise, and hope, and good intentions. Here we go again, another round of New Year’s Resolutions! Maybe not. We don’t seem to hear as much about resolutions for the New Year these days – maybe they’re no longer in vogue. Those of us who are older might have become a little cynical about making resolutions that we seldom seem to remember, much less keep.

      Consider a modest proposal. Make only one simple resolution for 2010. Resolve to pray daily. I confess to having made this resolution several years running, with varying degrees of follow through. At the same time though, even faltering success has had a profound effect. And over those same years, I’ve come to be more disciplined about daily prayer time. The daily part is still a challenge, and something is truly missing from the days I fail to take time with the Lord.

      During internship, I was once asked about the Greek word for “prayer”. “Proseuch”

(proseuche’) is the noun form of the Greek. There are three entries for  “proseuch”,  totaling seven pages in the Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament, edited by Balz and Schneider (1993). Not very important to know, except that it’s difficult to summarize in a few words all that can be said of the Greek form of the word “prayer”. Here’s a small piece from the Exegetical Dictionary that you might find interesting:

      “Prayer in the Bible is the expression of the believer’s experience of the proximity to God and dependence upon God; thus it also constitutes worship in the real sense. Through praise, thanksgiving, lament, and request, believers witness that

they live from the goodness of God the Creator and Savior. Their call to God corresponds to their experience of God’s word and actions. Prayer is thus more than an inward, meditative process. It flows from the human ‘heart’, expresses itself in speaking, calling, crying, rejoicing, lamenting, and pleading, and encompasses ... the whole person.” (Vol. III, p. 167)

      Powerful stuff. That’s what most who pray regularly experience, along with the truth of Romans 8:26-27:  “And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Prayer is one of life’s greatest opportunities, and greatest riches. Resolve this New Year not to miss out.

      There are numerous books and pamphlets available concerning prayer. One of the best I’ve encountered is simply titled Prayer, by O. Hallesby. Augsburg Fortress Publishers is one of several printing houses offering it. 

      Prayer. Try it – you’ll like it. In fact, it’s one New Year’s Resolution that will definitely have lasting impact.

            The blessings of the Savior to each of you this New Year,                       

                                                             Pastor Steve

 

 

Budget Meeting ~ Sunday, January 31

Annual Meeting ~ Sunday, February 7