Prayer is a real expression, a faithful response, and a needed choice. For the believer, to pray is to follow Jesus’ example and to connect what is true of your life and circumstances to what is true of Jesus and His kingdom.
In this Season of Petition, we recall what Jesus shared with his first disciples. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (John 15:16). To ask God to work in and among us throughout this year is not too bold a thing, rather it is a very faithful thing.
Prayers of Petition are characterized by persistent requests for God to act, advocacy for Jesus’ Kingdom on earth, naming personal burdens and asking for relief, and real dependence on God’s ability to answer. In another place the Apostle John teaches “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15). Examples of this kind of prayer are everywhere in Scripture, and Luke 18:1-8 is a compelling parable.
Yet, a friend recently described a common hesitation when it comes to prayers of petition: We don’t think God simply gives us what we want, right? That is true. But we do think that asking God involves trusting his response. In fact, we think that God not only hears and receives our prayers, we believe he responds and uses all of it to shape us into Christlikeness at the same time. At it’s heart, prayer is about becoming more Christ-like.
Thinking of Calvary in this Season, join together in asking God …
To address our burdens
To grow us as as Christ followers
To encourage our hearts into faithfulness
To cause love to be known as the primary characteristic among us
To cause the good news of Jesus to be shared consistently
To work in Calvary’s leadership transition and transform us into a healthier community
To strengthen all Gospel believing churches in St Charles County
To transform our city
To transform our world
Without knowing exactly how God will answer, we commit to pray this year. Glad you are joining in!
- Dan