New Life In Christ: Being People of Prayer

     God's blessings to you as we look forward to celebrating the holy time of Easter!  I hope and pray that in your life this may be a time of new life and a time of renewal of faith in our risen and living savior, Jesus Christ. During the past few months, I have been increasingly challenged and convicted to "go deeper" in my walk with Jesus Christ, and I have been desiring a more personal and consistent walk with Him in prayer.  The earliest Christians, responding in faith to the good news of Jesus Christ and his life, death and resurrection, "Devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42).  Prayer has always been a significant part of life in the Christian community, for individuals as well as for the whole "body of Christ."  There are some opportunities at Trinity that are coming up that I hope you will take advantage of so that we can grow together in love for God and for one another.

     I encourage each one of us to look at our own prayer life and ask God how He wants us to grow.  Do we need to begin a daily prayer time with Him?  Are there people or situations God wants us to pray for?  Perhaps for you it may mean to begin by setting aside just five minutes each day to start or re-start your prayer life.  You can follow the "PRAY" acronym and take time to P - "praise" God for His love and care for you; R - "repent" of your sins; A - pray for "another" person or persons; and Y - pray for "yourself" and your needs.  You are also encouraged to stop by the church sometime on Saturday, April 3 to pray in the prayer chapel during our "Easter Eve Prayer Vigil."  You may come at any time between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM on this day to pray.  Come as an individual or bring your entire family to pray for yourselves and for others.  Use the "PRAY" acronym with your family and bring your praises and concerns together to the Lord!

     May this time of Easter be a time that we open our hearts and lives even more to the love of Jesus Christ.  He desires to be near us, to guide us and to fill us with His Spirit. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says.  "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me."  Ole Hallesby, a Norwegian teacher and author wrote some very profound words about prayer in his book entitled, Prayer.  He wrote, "To pray is nothing more involved that to open the door, giving Jesus access to our needs and permitting Him to exercise His own power in dealing with them."  Let's allow Jesus in today and trust that the Lord who created us, who knows all about us and who loves us, will create "new life" in us as we give Him access to our hearts and lives.

Together praying with you and for you,

Pastor John Foss