The Good Life Of Prayer Life

Wayne Johnson rang the cowbell as we finished greeting each other and began our Sunday morning worship service at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Special prayers were requested for Clyde Sherman, Clyde Moss, Della Johnson and the Karen Hatfield-Cahalan family.

"Lessons in the dark" was the devotional, as Linda Abercrombie read Job 12:22, "He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light." Do we sometimes have a mental block when it comes to spiritual things? It is not an easy path for a Christ-like life. Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek when sometimes we want to raise our fist. Remember in the dark what you learn in the light. God gives us the light to see in the dark.

Pray for those in the dark. Pray for faith in the darkness.

Tyrel Lett asked God's blessing upon the offering and he and Rick Lett served as ushers. Jerry Abercrombie led the congregational hymns, "Glory to His Name," "Standing on the Promises" and "Blessed Assurance." We were so blessed with special music from Jimmy Easter as he played, "Why Me, Lord" and "The Old Rugged Cross" on his banjo.

Brother Mark Hall brought us a short and to-the-point sermon, "The Good Life of Prayer Life," with scripture from Colossians 4:2, "Continue earnestly in prayer being vigilant in it with thanksgiving." Brother Mark told us that our prayer life is so very important in our life and yet one of the most neglected. "Do we pray more than we talk about it?"

Brother Mark told us three things about prayer in Christian life. "First, we must pray with a purpose or remember the purpose of prayer. The purpose of prayer is not just to get help or stuff. What are most of our prayers about? God is our source of help and all good things come from God. The main purpose of prayer is just to get a closer walk with Thee. There is no closeness without communication. We cannot be a good Christian without a good prayer life. Without it, we will never have that closeness. It has been said that prayer is the effective and powerful weapon against trials, the most effective medicine against sickness and the most valuable gift to people we love."

Brother Mark said he had read somewhere, where our prayers should ask for "our eyes to see the best in people, our heart to forgive the worst in people, our mind to forget the worst and a soul that never loses faith in God."

Brother Mark told us the second thing about prayer in Christian life is the persistence of prayer as he referred to Ephesians 6:18, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

Brother Mark told us that the value of persistent prayer is not for Him to hear us but that we hear Him. "The problem is not unanswered prayers, but unasked prayers. Pray and wait for God to answer. Pray with patience and persistence like Jacob. We don't know the mind of God."

"Third, and most important," Brother Mark told us, "is the passion of prayer. We need to learn to pray with passion. If you pray with persistence, you should also pray with passion. It helps us maintain our faith in difficult times. It needs to be prayer from the heart, not just the head. Passionate prayer opens heaven and gives us direction. Pour out your heart to God. We need more passionate prayer in these times, not just prayer. Jesus prayed passionately. Passionate prayer is powerful prayer. Repent of your prayerlessness."

Our hymn of invitation was "Just a Closer Walk With Thee." We then observed the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Jesus and what He did on the cross for us. We joined voices in singing "The Family of God," and David Collingsworth gave the benediction.

We invite you to come join us as we try to walk closer with Thee during the New Year and thank Him for loving us.

Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Mill Creek is located 3 1/2 miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90. Everyone is welcome to attend.