Remembering Our Vows

We have an exciting Sunday coming to kick off our next series at church.

Our very own Kim Butcher is being ordained during the service on Sunday. A representative from Foursquare, David Eddy, is coming to lead us in honoring and celebrating Kim. Not only has Kim worked so hard to fulfill the requirements necessary to complete her certification, but she has already been leading us well and serving our church family with dedication. This is an opportunity for us to recognize her valuable place and pray for her as members of her family.

Also this Sunday we will be stepping fully into our series, “A Call to Prayer”. As the prayer team, we are going to be encouraged and challenged! If you haven’t yet read Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, get your copy now! This book is a fantastic partnership to scripture teaching on prayer. It unifies us as a body to read it together, and it bolsters us as individuals in our own prayer lives.

This week I read a challenge for husbands and wives to consider going back to re-read their wedding vows. The purpose was to really examine if they believe the vows, and if so, to question if that belief is impacting the way they engage their spouses. It was a great exercise for marriage, but it also got me thinking about the vows made to the church by her bridegroom, and specifically the promises made about prayer. If we go back and read those promises and examine our hearts to see if we really believe…how is that belief transforming our prayer life and our faith in the One to whom we pray?

These are the vows I am considering this week, found listed in the Praying Like Monks book. Whether you make a prayer list, or you wait until you feel inspired by the moment, or get into a specific prayer position, or wake in the night with prayers on your mind, I am praying with you for a confession of beliefs and struggles and a reminder of the incredible vows made out of love for you.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24)

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7)

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matthew 21:22)

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? (Matthew 7:11)

I am usually a “read through the chapter” kind of studier, but there’s something about all these verses listed side by side to see the consistency and repetition of these promises. They are stirring my heart today!

So thankful for each one of you and your consistency in partnering in prayer over our finances and the heart of this church family!