Prayer is our Friend

I feel led to share with you concerning last night's service at Harrowgate Worship Center. Pastor Johnson challenged us from the very beginning concerning our opportunity to receive the presence of Christ into our lives. He reminded us that God has invited us to participate with Him and that we can receive the Living Water that He is willing to share with us. The anointing of the Spirit was upon every aspect of the meeting and many in the congregation responded to the altar invitation to come and receive. Is it possible that we have complicated the plan of God with our ideas, plans, and thoughts concerning the matters of the Spirit? Have we rejected the presence of Christ for a "man-made" production of church? Have we learned to "do" and "have" church in the strength of the flesh rather than the unction and direction of the Spirit? I truly believe that God is calling His people into the freshness of the Living Water and the Living Bread. It is time to break free of the hindrances of tradition, ritual, routine and become genuinely receptive to the ministering power and presence of the Spirit. I could sense the Lord speaking these words and thoughts in my heart last evening. God is prepared to awaken His people if only we will come to Him in open and honest surrender. We must make the decision to pursue the presence of God with open hearts, open minds, and open spirits. We must be ready to respond in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. These actions can become the spiritual soil in which a mighty move of God is produced. One final thought concerning last evening's service; I believe that this is truly noteworthy for all of us. A young man (middle teens) desired to share a testimony at the conclusion of the service. But rather than sharing a Praise report he felt led to share what the Lord had placed in his heart. He spoke the following words as he trembled under the influence of the Holy Spirit; "Prayer is our best friend." He went onto elaborate on the need for us to be consistent in our prayer life and that prayer must continue to be an important part of our spiritual discipline. The words he spoke were incredibly challenging but the unction and fervency with which he spoke them caused me to sense that we were hearing a portion of the heart of God. God speaking through this young man was reminding us that we must not forsake our time of prayer and communication with our Heavenly Father. I know that I often mention the need for prayer but I sense that the Lord is concerned about the lack of prayer that takes place on a daily basis in our lives. We must make time to pray. We must be committed to pray. We must be an example to those family members and friends that God has placed in our lives. Be resolute in your determination to either begin a prayer journey with God or to strengthen your prayer walk with God. Today is the best day of your life to begin a lifestyle of consistent prayer.