Prayer WEBINAR

Just attended my first Webinar through Church Sports Outreach. A Webinar is a great tool. It involves a presentation and conference call through the computer with a group of people who are led by a facilitator or presenter for a certain topic or discussion. Webinars are a great way to provide connectivity between groups, people, and organizations without having to wait a full year to attend a "seminar."

Today's topic was "A Different Perspective on Prayer and Ministry" led by Bob Schindler of CSO. Many of us come into the office with our list of to do's for the day or the week and we never really find the time to pray as needed. While prayer is on our minds, it just seems to pass us by with the "to do" list before us.

Mark 9:14-29 was our main passage as we looked at the connection of prayer and faith and believing verses unbelieving. Like the disciples, we refer back to the accomplishes we have had and lean on them to guide us in the future. Therefore, we exhibit little faith and often, maybe unconsciously, place our faith in ourselves to accomplish the tasks before us. And when it doesn't work, like the disciples, we can not figure out what happened. We have to understand that without prayer, our motivations for the work around us comes from our perspective, not our beliefs. Prayer must be a part of our mindset and our pre-game preparation for the daily activities of our lives - whether that be leading your family, ministry positions, or going out into the work force.

As you think about your life and the list of tasks that is before you, take time to find God's perspective before you start working on your own. The disciples were puzzled when they failed to heal the boy from his disease. And, in private they went before Him and asked, Why? Jesus simply speaks to the heart of matter when he says, "Oh, you unbelieving generation." Could it be the fact that we trust ourselves more than we trust Christ? Could it be that we really don't believe Jesus and the power of who He is and what has been placed within us - the Holy Spirit?

Prayer is and should be our starting point (making our request known), our resting point (the place in which we reflect and restore ourselves with the truths of God), and our finishing point (the time we celebrate in worship of what God has done according to His will).