August Message From Pastor

Rejoice always!

Pray constantly.

   Always be joyful. 

   Never stop praying.

      Be joyful always,  

      pray at all times,

          Rejoice evermore. 

          Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17).

I repeatedly read these short verses from Thessalonians and compared four different translations in order to determine if they all convey the same meaning. Interestingly, they all emphasize the importance of experiencing continual joy and maintaining a state of prayer. Many Christians feel overwhelmed when considering these verses, as it seems impossible to be constantly joyful and prayerful. Indeed, we often find ourselves consumed with worry due to the various burdens weighing on our souls. The concerns surrounding us, both in our personal lives and in the world at large, constantly occupy our thoughts and cause us distress. We feel uneasy and weighed down by the trials and difficulties we face. The ability to experience excitement, let alone joy, often feels like a distant memory, and we long for a sense of peace and calm. This demonstrates the vital need for prayer in our lives.

Paul’s purpose was encouragement. He did not mean to burden his friends in Thessalonica by telling them to occupy their time with prayer. What he meant was for the Thessalonians to be in a prayerful state and continually talk to God. “Pray continually,” does not specify a time in the day, number of hours to pray, or how to pray. Rather, Paul encourages the Thessalonians, and all of us Christians in the 21st century, to be conscious of the importance of praying and the call to do so. Some people pray all day long, some for six hours, some for thirty minutes, some for only a minute. Some pray in the morning, some at noon, bedtime or over meals etc. We can pray while walking, driving, with our eyes open or closed. These verses encourage us to undertake prayer without limitation: to pray and to be joyful even if perplexed. This is because our prayer and joy both accompany us and support us in our faith journey. 

Have you ever wondered what the disciples asked Jesus to teach them? Amidst the various skills they could have sought, such as casting out demons or mastering the art of preaching etc., the disciples did not ask Jesus about trivial matters like food preferences, whether they can eat vanilla or avoid chocolate. Their ONE request was to be taught how to pray (Luke 11:1). Prayer was the most important tool for the disciples, and it remains vital for our Christian Walk with Christ. Similarly, Jesus advised His disciples that while their spirit is willing, their flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Prayer is not meant to be easy; it requires us to make an intentional effort to open our hearts and minds to seek the face of God. Jesus desires us to be in constant conversation with our creator, so we are comforted, encouraged, renewed, and restored. He is the ultimate source of our comfort and the giver of joy, which springs from the throne above.

Once upon a time, a young boy asked his father, "Dad, what is the size of God?" While the father was struggling to answer his son, he saw an airplane flying high in the sky. The father pointed at the plane and said, "Look at that airplane." The boy said, "It looks so small." The next morning, the father took the boy to the local airport. The boy was amazed to see a grounded airplane for the first time and exclaimed, "It is big!" The father said, "Son, this is like God. He looks small when we are at a distance, but He is big when we come close to Him.” So, it is when we bow and draw near before God in prayer that we see the greatness of God, experience His presence, hear His voice, and cultivate a meaningful relationship with Him. "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" James said (James 4:8). Through prayer, our inner being is strengthened, and we are established and filled with the knowledge of God, leading to transformation (Ephesians 3:14-21). 

Prayer is the resource by which we talk to God, tell him how and what we feel, the need to participate in His mission. We take Jesus as the example. He prayed often, anytime of the day, in private and in public. He prayed when at peace but also from the cross when he was in agony. He wept and sweated, speaking his heart to his Father (Luke 23:34). Paul also prayed and asked people to pray for him (Ephesians 6:19).

Today, if you are wondering how to pray more effectively, know that you already have a great desire to do so. However, the effectiveness of your prayer ultimately depends on your perception and relationship with Christ. Your heart is in the right place, so continue to cultivate your desire for prayer and be mindful of your need to communicate with God. Take the time to build a strong relationship with Him – remember, He hears your voice (Psalm 55:16-17).

As we enjoy the remaining days of summer and wrap up our vacations, I humbly ask us to reflect on our trips (if you took one this summer) and our visits with family, friends, and community members. These little things strengthen us and bring us closer to seeing God at work in our lives. Therefore, I encourage you to pray constantly, never stopping, always, and without ceasing, for your family, your city, etc. and for our church community.

PRAY! 

Rev. Dr. Owar Ojulu