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Prayer - by Brittney Pickett

How often do you pray? Do you use it as a last resort? Do you only use prayer to ask God for things? "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).  It is a way for us to communicate with God, to strengthen our relationship. More often than not, we use prayer as a "well nothing else worked," when we can't "fix" our problems on our own. We try everything in our power, when that fails, we finally turn to God. We choose to worry which changes nothing, instead of pray, which changes everything.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). We would waste a lot less energy and have a lot less heartache if we turned to God in prayer, immediately. Why would you try to take down a concrete wall with a toothpick when you have a bulldozer, right there, waiting! It sounds crazy, right? But that is what we do... we go at our problems with a toothpick, (on on own) instead of reaching out to God for the bulldozer. Remind yourself everyday, that you don't have to get through life on your own. God is right there, ready and waiting... all you have to do is pray!

Prayer was not created as some kind of wish list for God! Dear God, please do this... I need this... fix this. He is NOT a magic jeanie! He is NOT a wish granter! God desires to have a daily relationship with us.. a friendship. Have you ever had a friend that only contacts you when they need something from you? You dread hearing from them b/c you know they are only calling because they want your help with something, or need to borrow something. Those people are users.. not friends. A friend is someone you talk to often and share the bad AND good with. You spend quality time together, you lift each other up, compliment each other, encourage one another, and yes... every once in a while you ask them for something.

Don't USE God... that is not the relationship that He desires with us. He wants us to talk to Him about everything, not just our needs and wants. If you feel disconnected from God, spend more time praying. You can't feel close to someone you never talk to. So talk to Him, he is ready to listen!

"Be joyful always; pray; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

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TRAINING TO WIN - PART 2

1 Timothy 4:8

"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."

I remember being a high school student and attending our youth retreats.  It was always an amazing experience.  I remember experiencing God in my quiet time and my worship was at another level.  I was on fire for God!!!  But then something always happened.... I returned home.  I always told myself that nothing would change, but it always did.  But why?  It wasn’t until my senior year that I finally figured it out and it was primarily because my youth pastor pointed it out.  

When I was at a camp or retreat, I removed myself from my normal routines, environments and distractions.  And all week I was reading God’s Word, praying, listening to God, and worshipping God.  Basically I was starving the flesh and feeding the spirit.  But when I got home from the retreat it usually took two weeks before I was back to my old routine.

My challenge to you is to start a new routine, and today’s challenge is reading the Bible.  I challenge you to read the Bible daily.  When I was a student, unfortunately, the only time I opened my Bible (regularly) was when my youth pastor read from it at our youth services.  But that changed my senior year when he challenged me to read God’s Word daily.  And I was able to make it a new routine.  Good habits are as hard to break as bad habits.  So just make a habit to read God’s Word.

Check back soon as I give some more ideas on “Training to Win”.

For more “Training to Win” ideas, check out www.iwontoday.com.  My youth pastor is the founder of “I Won Today Ministries”.

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