June 2018
Message from the Board
At our last board meeting, Gary Dong, our board president, spoke about the importance of increasing prayer in our lives as believers. He shared how a healthy church is a praying church.
I believe we are a church body that considers prayer an important spiritual practice, both individually and as members of the church. I also believe that the Holy Spirit is working in each of us to go deeper in our walk with God.
Spiritual maturity requires us to be like Christ. Choosing to be in the world, but not of the world. Recognizing the inner conflict between worldliness vs. godliness. And recognizing the insidious deception of self-reliance vs. dependence on God. This is where prayer can keep us on the right track.
What is your personal growth goal? Or where are you feeling stuck? Perhaps your goal is to have more compassion, and/or more forgiveness towards yourself, or another person, or regarding a specific situation. Perhaps you want to have more humility, or God's help in repenting from your sins. Maybe your goal is to show more grace towards others, and being less critical or negative. Maybe you need to express more gratitude and more thanksgiving to God, the Giver of all blessings.
Well, successfully meeting goals like these, and getting to the deeper part of personal growth, require action. May the following verses on prayer inspire you to take action in your prayer life:
- "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." –Romans 12:12
- “Hear my cry, O from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” –Psalm 61:1-3
- "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." –Ephesians 6:18
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." –Philippians 4:6
- "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." –Colossians 4:2
- "Pray continually." –1 Thessalonians 5:17
- "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone…" –1 Timothy 2:1
- “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” –John 16:24
SCFBC will be holding its next prayer event on Friday, June 15th, from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M., in the main sanctuary. More information will be coming to you soon. We hope to see you there!