"Covenant Keepers- Prayer" 10/24/04 Psalm 63:1-8

Last week we began the "Covenant Keepers Program" as a way to take a conscious look at our spiritual journey as we seek to make God the center of our lives and our life together. This program focuses on the areas of presence at worship, our prayer life, the spirit of generosity, a life of service, and our spiritual growth. All five of these areas are critical to our spiritual lives and the ways we keep God at the center of all we do.

Last week we began by looking at the importance of being present for worship each Sunday. In many ways everything else that we do emanates from slowing down enough to stand on this "Holy Ground" and hear the still small voice of God that can be drummed out by all of our continual running, moving, and doing. Don't' let anything rob you of the opportunity to abide in God's presence on Sunday so that you are filled up to face the rest of the week.

Tonight we'll take a look at our prayer life. Prayer is the way we build our relationship with God. Mother Teresa said "Prayer is in all things, in all gestures". Our goal is to live a life of prayer. Each day it is vital that we set aside a time to commune with God in prayer. Some of us have set aside a particular place, whether that is a specific room in our home, a favorite chair, or sitting on the back porch with a cup of tea in the morning. In that time we silence the many voices that clamor for our attention and bask in God's presence. We can use music, meditation, or a daily devotional to help us hear God's voice. What ever helps us to be still, to be quiet will aide us in this part of our prayer life.   What a wonderful way to begin the day by giving that day to God.  What ever it holds, whoever we will meet, the joys and the challenges that come our way. Prayer the first thing in the morning can give us needed strength to face the day ahead. A prayer of grace at every meal can remind us of the wondrous ways that God has blessed our lives. Prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving remind us that all we have is given by our loving Parent to be used for God's honor and glory. At the end of our day when we prepare to sleep for the night we can finish the day resting in the God's arms knowing that we have done the best to keep God at the center of all that we have done. Our goal being to live a life of prayer that is reflected in all that we do and say.

One of the most important things that we do as a faith community is to prayer together. When we lift our voices in prayer on Sunday we are united as one in God's Spirit. As we share our words of praise and thanksgiving, when we admit our mistakes and shortcomings in confession, when we sit in silence the presence of God is among us and joining us together. As we share in the prayers of the people we say in one accord that we believe God is a part of our lives and the life of our world. Prayer changes things. One of the most precious gifts that we can offer another person is to say "I'll pray for you". To take another person into God's holy presence is to say that person matters, their life and concerns are important to us.

In the song that Marilyn will sing tonight we hear the words "there's power in prayer". When we're seeking direction in our lives and have important decisions to make we find God's guidance as we share our concerns with God in prayer. When our road is difficult and we feel like we just can't do it on our own, God picks us up and carries us along the way. When we're bursting with joy and can't help but laugh and sing, our gratitude makes God happy. And what a gift to be able to confess the wrongs we have done and know the forgiveness of God that wipes the slate clean and let's us start again. And even on those days when it seems difficult to pray we can tap on a familiar prayer, call a friend and ask them to pray for us, call the Touch tone prayer line and let others help to bring us into God's presence. There is power in prayer. The power to change our lives and the power to change our world.

This week I invite you to really focus on your prayer life. Read the pamphlet I've prepared about prayer, that the time every day to read the scripture reading in there, and above all pray. See what a difference it can make in your life and the life of church as we commit each day to be a praying people.