Can you believe it... We are 1/2 way thru January 2012 already! Something hit me the other day; I realized that this is the
century in which I will die. Might sound kind of morbid but I believe this thought holds out a tremendous challenge for us. You see, most of us will not live to the year 2100. So we are faced with the reality of what our tombstones will say. 19 something to 20 something. I like what H.J. Brown, “Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things
you didn’t do more than the ones you did.” 

There is a lot of truth in that statement. The areas of life we  omit are harder to accept forgiveness from God, from others and from ourselves for than some of the sins we commit. When we look back on life, we very well may  regret the things we didn’t do a whole lot more than we regret the things we did.

So, in 2012 may we take a step in the right direction and resolve to do things like: Spend more time with family; Exercise more; Read more; Eat healthier; Do more for the community; Be more involved in church; Take up a new hobby; Enjoy the outdoors
more; Show love to those around us; etc. All these things are good but if we were to narrow it all down –  if we were to do only one thing, and concentrate on it for the rest of our lives  – what should that one thing be?

Let me ask you, when it’s all said and  done, wouldn’t you like to have the peace and sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you chose the right thing? What is this one thing? 
The answer is found in Colossians 4:2,“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” The word “devote” is also translated as “to adhere to, to persist in, or to busy one’s self with.”  When I learned that “devote” means  “busy yourself,”  I
asked myself some questions to see if this was true of me. To see if I was really devoted to prayer.

How about you. . .Are you devoted to prayer? Answer these questions to help determine your answer:
1. Yes / No   When others refer to you, are they likely to say, “He/She is a person of prayer?”
2. Yes / No   When you tell someone,“I’ve been busy,” is it primarily because you’ve busied yourself with prayer?
3. Yes / No   Do you find yourself daydreaming about the next extended period of time that you could be alone with God?
4. Which is more likely of you?
a) To say no to something because it would cut in on your prayer time.
OR
b) To skimp on prayer because you have a lot of other things going on.

Are you really devoted to prayer? I hope that by  answering those questions, many of you could say, “Yes”  because you busy yourselves with prayer.

If you are currently not devoted to prayer then let me give you 7 reasons why you should be:
1 - Because it’s our duty as  Christians. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

2 - Because we are promised that God hears. "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their
troubles.” (Psalm 34:17)

3 - Because we need to hear from God. “I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God.” (Psalm 38:15)

 4 - Because we need strength in temptation. “But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

5 - Because we need to overcome our own  wills. The night before Jesus was put to death he prayed in the Garden of
  Gethsemane, he said, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” But in the end he still wanted God’s will to be done. “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

6 - Because we need help for what lies ahead. “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me…” (Psalm 25:4-5)

 7 - Because unbroken communion with God is possible. “I’m an open book to you; even from a distance you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and  when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start my first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there too – your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful – I can not take it all in!”(Psalm 139:1-6, The Message)

So, if you want 2012 (and the rest of your life) life to be different. If you want to have the peace that comes from doing one thing and knowing you chose the right thing. If you want to know the joy that comes from doing something you may have been omitting and seeing the hopes and dreams for your spiritual life and communion with God become a reality – THEN DO THIS ONE THING… DEVOTE YOURSELF TO PRAYER.

Suggestions for doing this one thing:
A. Begin to take every thought to God. (First thing when you wake up, when you’re waiting somewhere in line or driving down
the road, when you’re working whisper to Him what’s on your mind. At the end of the day let your mind settle on Him and go to sleep in His arms – take every thought to him)

B. Develop a quality Quiet Time. (Get in God’s Word, take time to get alone and pray, use devotional books to give you direction)

C. Keep a running prayer list or a prayer journal. (We have some available if you need one.)

There are many good things that you could do in 2012, but if you do only one thing, then let it be devoting yourself to prayer.
 
God bless,

Pastor Jim Asberry
Vision Pastor