Here are some random thoughts on prayer.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13

As a teenager, I began to realize that most of my prayers were telling God what I wanted. When I realized that God is sovereign and will do as he wills I decided not to bother him with my prayers since he knows better than I do.

Thus I decided I would not tell God how to run his universe. After several weeks of not speaking to God, I realized that my heavenly father, like my earthly father, would like for me to talk to him. So I began to pray and spend more time telling God how I feel toward him, the confidence that I have in him and generally coming to understand the Almighty God.

Later, while in Bible school, I learned an even better lesson. Since no one paid my way, I took a job on the Pennsylvania Railroad. One snowy Sunday I was in the office and a train had broken down on the Main line. I needed to call out a crew to go down and pick up the train. I could not reach the trainmaster to get his permission although I tried.

I ended up calling out a crew and on the bottom of the pay voucher I signed my name. I did not feel that it would be right for me to sign the trainmaster’s name when he had not called out the crew.

A week or two later I reported at four o’clock to do my job and the train master said, “who is Mr. Van Sandt?”  When I answered, he called me into his office only to ask me why I had signed the pay voucher. He made it very clear that the only name that belongs at the bottom of the voucher was his name.

The same is true in prayer – the only name is His name! – Pastor Van is an interim pastor and Christian counselor. He is a Keswick friend and partner.

Team YOU: Psalm 123-125; Proverbs 28; 1 Corinthians 10:1-18

Motivations: I’m taking the Lord at His word, and I’m trusting Him to prove His Word. It’s kind of like putting all your eggs in one basket, but we’ve already put our trust in Him for salvation, so why not do it as far as our life is concerned?  Ed McCully

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Philippians 3:13-14; Level 2: Philippians 3:17-21 

Powered Up:  In regards to prayer we are apt to be apologetic and apathetic, complex and confused; yet what a splendid audacity a childlike child has! And that is what our Lord taught us to have.