Pray Like Jesus
During this time of commitment we are talking about prayer at Pine Valley United Methodist Church. Pastor Kim’s sermon on Thursday and Sunday was “Pray Like Jesus”. I think we can all agree that we have a ways to go to pray like Jesus but we should be growing in our prayer life. Prayer is a two-way conversation. Sometimes that is hard because we want to do all of the talking.
Jesus spent many hours in prayer and a lot of time listening. Matthew 14:23, “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone…” Jesus also got up early to pray. Luke 4:42, “At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.” We see a pattern in Jesus’ life where He often withdrew to be alone and pray. Luke 5:16, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” If Jesus felt the need to be quiet and pray then I believe we need it too! Praying is just talking to God. You can tell Him anything - He already knows it anyway. You can talk to Him like He is your best friend or your father. He is your Father and you are His child. Luke 11:1, "One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’’ Luke shares part of the Lord's prayer as a part of Jesus' answer to the disciples.
By neglecting prayer, we forfeit a greater love and appreciation for Christ, a deeper relationship with Him, and His power in our weakness. We are told that we are to pray about everything. Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." As Pastor Tim said in a sermon, “If it is on your mind, it is on God's heart.” I like the quote, “If you only pray when you’re in trouble, you’re in trouble.” (by unknown)
The best thing for me is to pray first thing in the morning. Starting my day with God makes for a better day. I talk to Him throughout the day. At night I thank Him for the day and ask Him to watch over us and give us restful sleep. By then I am asleep. Usually, during the night I wake up a couple of times. If it is one of those nights I cannot sleep I talk to Him or pray for whoever has been brought to my mind.
God wants us to devote ourselves to prayer. Devote means to give all or a large part of one's time. Colossians 4:2-4, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." God wants to know about the little things. Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Here at PVUMC we are blessed to have a Monday Prayer Ministry which began in 1989 after Todd Sammons had felt led to start an early morning prayer group. Currently, Damon Littlefield guides the prayer group. The prayer group has a collection of stories of lives changed, touched, healings, restoration, etc. Prayer works! One of Mrs. Pindell’s favorite stories is referred to as, “Coma Card”. They sent a card to a mother whose daughter was in a coma in the hospital. The mother took the card to the hospital and read it to her daughter. She read the message on the card that said, “We serve a God of miracles.” At that time her daughter awoke from her coma!
The prayer group sends cards to the Hebron Colony in Boone, NC which is a Christian recovery center. One of the gentleman received a card from PVUMC, completed his stay, returned to Wilmington, joined PVUMC, and has taken part in various ministries since then. That gentleman is Jimmy Fergus, who I asked if I could use those two sentences without his name. He said he wanted his name used! Jimmy grew up in downtown Wilmington and attended Fifth Avenue Methodist. If you ask him if he has been here all his life, he will say, “I’m still here, aren’t I?” Jimmy said he did a lot of sinning and I reminded him, haven’t we all? Celebrate Recovery brought him to PVUMC prior to Hebron Colony. Our prayer group was a cheerleader for Jimmy and his relationship with Jesus Christ. Jimmy is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” I believe Jimmy is one of PVUMC’s biggest cheerleaders! When my office was down the hall from the medical equipment room I would hear Jimmy walk people back there and always invite them to church! I heard Jimmy invite one man and they said they had visited and liked it. Jimmy did not stop there. He told them, “Then come on back!” I thank God for those prayers for Jimmy, the prayer team, and the ministry that Jimmy does here at PVUMC!
We are all needed to be prayer warriors. If you would like to be a part of the prayer ministry here at PVUMC, please contact the church office.