One of the most famous pictures of our first president has captured the imagination of most Americans and stirred the heart of patriotic Christians. The painting I am speaking of is that of George Washington kneeling by his horse at Valley Forge and praying to God.  Our first president understood the necessary value of seeking the guidance and presence of God.

Prayer is vital to the life of the believer.  It is not so much what we ask for that is important but the fact we are spending time in the presence of our savior.  Prayer is so intrinsic to the life of a Christian that we are given a very specific command.  1 Thessalonians 5:17-  Pray without ceasing.  We are to be in consistent constant communion with God.

Prayer seems to go in and out of vogue throughout the history of the church.  There is nothing stylish or fashionable about prayer.  Yet it is the secret to a powerful Christian life and church. A prayer-less life equals a powerless life. I love this quote from Oswald Chambers ~  "We hear it said that a man will suffer in his life if he does not pray; I question it. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God within him, which is nourished not by food but by prayer...Prayer is the way the life of God is nourished." We feed our bodies daily as a matter of fact many of us three (or more) times a day.  How much more important is it then to feed the Spirit man.

For many today prayer is an afterthought instead of the norm.  Many seem to come to God when they are at the end of their rope. Yet I believe if we were regularly coming into the presence of God we would never get to the end of the rope.  Abraham Lincoln understood the value of prayer, and the results of his life speaks for themselves. He said ~ "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go."

For many prayer is simply about asking, but the truth is it is more about knowing.  We are a well educated group of believers but how much more desirable it is to know the one we read about.  Let me give you one more quote from Oswald Chambers- "Our ordinary views of prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer as a means for getting something for ourselves; the Bible's idea of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself."

During the summer we take time to catch up on our reading and our resting. I want to encourage every one of us to renew our commitment to daily prayer.  Prayer changes us, our families and our nation and will set our church on fire with living Spirit of God.

May you be blessed this month and may God bless America with a fresh move of His Spirit and may it begin with us.

We Love you,

Pastor Marvin & Dawn