The Power Of Prayer

Hello once again!

Prayer is an integral part of an individual's stewardship "process." It is important because it is through prayer that we are able to discern God's will for us. Prayer eventually is able to provide us with a "road map", revealing avenues through which we can use our spiritual gifts to enact God's will in the world.

To me, prayer is an experience unlike any other. Once everything else has drowned out, all I can feel is that... connection. The excitement. The empowerment. The energy. I can't find the words to describe the feeling of tapping into that energy that binds us all... Luckily, I don't need to, because we all have access to it.

The problem that I see with prayer is that too often, we use prayer as a means of absolving ourselves of any necessity to act, rather than using it as a part of the process empowering us to take action. We find ourselves praying to ask God to take action in order to have some effect in the our lives or the lives of others, rather than using prayer to seek a means through which WE can act. Avenues through which WE can make that difference in someone's life.

This strikes me as an example of making our faith passive rather than active, a problem that is in no way a new one. Admittedly, it does seem easier to just ignore the archetype of crucifixion and resurrection that we are called to emulate. Ignore the empowerment that we are all given and all the work that the ability to make our own differences out there in the world entails. Sure, it seems easier to just keep expecting God to bring about Kingdom while we sit here, waiting. But is it responsible? Or does being a good steward mean using prayer as a jumping off point for getting our hands dirty?

Your Stewardship Team