SERMON
FEBRUARY 6, 2022
TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER
Pastor Jean Owens 607-273-5682 jowens11@aol.com
A few years ago, it was time for me to look for a new car. The mechanic warned me that the rust was getting the upper hand with my van and passing inspection the following year was going to be iffy.
Now, I don’t like to make changes if things are working just fine the way they are. Don’t rock the boat.
When I was a young adult, my Dad chose the car I would drive. Then my older brother picked out my next car. Then for my entire married life, my husband always selected the car. I was okay with that. But now, Dave had passed on. It was my time to get a car. I decided I liked the van that Dave had picked and that’s what I wanted. The exact same thing.
Well, you aren’t going to find a 2001 in this neck of the woods with any metal left so, obviously, you have to look below the snow belt. So, I concocted this plan. One of my daughters was going to go south for a break from the winter weather with her family. She has a slew of kids and wanted to avoid the torturous two-day car trip with all my perfectly behaved grandchildren on board.
So, what made perfect sense was I would drive her car with my youngest daughter to Florida, buy my new to me 2001 van, and meet them at the airport. I had to have my new van by the time they landed because there wasn’t room in their vehicle for eight people and the luggage. It sounded perfect.
I made arrangements with my bank to buy my new van with my debit card. I just had to call the bank, talk to the bank officer I had made arrangements with to approve such a large purchase on my debit card and it was a done deal.
The trip down went well. My daughter got on the plane with her family as we reached Florida to meet us in Tampa and then I did the math. I hadn’t given myself much time to find and purchase my van in order to get to the airport in time to pick them up. Actually, by my calculations, I had 45 minutes to find a van, make the deal, sign the paperwork, and drive off the lot.
I believe in taking everything to God in prayer. I preach it. But then again, in the back of my mind, I always wonder if I SHOULD take stupid stuff to God. Like, why didn’t I give myself a bit more time to get all the pieces of the puzzle to lay in place?
Please Lord. The pressure is on. I NEED HELP.
While my younger daughter drove, I checked out dealerships on the way across Tampa to the airport rendezvous, looking for a 2001 Chrysler Town & Country. I found one. It was a different color but that wasn’t the point. I could jump in it and drive. I knew the car.
We got off US 4 (what a nightmare that highway has become) and drove to the dealership. As we drove up to the lot, I pointed at the van and said to my daughter, “There’s my van.” 45 minutes later I drove off the lot comfortable in my new wheels. We got there in time to pick up the kids from the airport.
Thank you, God!
So, what do we take to God in prayer?
John 16: 23,24 Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Jesus tells you to pray in His name. When our Lord says, “Whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you,” He tells you that true prayer is never a waste of breath. For Jesus gives you His word that God the Father will hear your prayers and act on them.
But did you hear Jesus’ words to “ask for anything”? Is that for real? Often, I’ve asked God for something and nothing happened? Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer to ask that God’s will be done, not ours! At the end of our prayer to God we ask it in Jesus’ Name. When we ask in Jesus’ name, we are asking that no matter what we may want, we want God’s will to be done even if it overrides and changes what we actually prayed for.
So, why do we pray? Some people see prayer merely as a religious duty that we have to carry out. Some pray for a number of personal motives. Some think God wants us to pray, I’ve no idea why, but I must do it. Then I will be blessed. Others think if we do not pray and bring God offerings things will not go well for us. I won’t get that promotion or I will lose a loved one.
What is Prayer? It is the turning of a person to God. 2 Chronicles 7.14 If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land.
It is talking to God in a conversation between us and God as a friend. We need also to listen to the voice of God. As it says in the Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. It is the experience of the presence of God.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 Guard your steps when you go to the House of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
It is where heaven and earth meet.
PRAISE How do we pray? By speaking and singing to God. Hebrews 13.15 Through Jesus, therefore let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name.
When we look to God for our strength our problems are put aside as we look to Him.
REPENT Peter in Acts 3: 19 says, Repent then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
ASK Luke 11:9 Ask and it shall be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened to you.
Take It to the Lord in Prayer
Nolan Williams, Jr.
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and grieves to bear
What a privilege it is to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations
Is there trouble anywhere
Our precious Savior
He is still our refuge
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Some things we have not
Because we ask not
When we have a friend who’s there
When we’re weak and heavy laden
Cumbered with a load of care
We should never be discouraged
When we take it to the Lord in prayer
Some things we have not
Because we ask not
When we have a friend who cares
Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain we bear
Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless we bear
Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain
Oh what needless pain
Oh what needless pain we bear
We should never be discouraged when we
Take it to the Lord in prayer