Every culture has some kind of religion. We have deep spiritual longings. Everyone is looking for God. Where are we in our spiritual journey? How do we allow spiritual longings, that God has placed in us, to drive us?
In Luke 11, Jesus teaches us to pray. Father, God is a loving father in heaven. Hallowed be your name, God is the creator; He is all powerful, therefore, respect and awe are an appropriate response to Him as we pray. Your kingdom come, your will be done. God is king and has authority. Give us each day our daily bread. We express our requests to God as a humble acknowledgment of our need of and total dependence on Him for all of the good gifts of life.
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Pastor Cliffe Knechtle
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The Bible says "Ask and you shall receive." Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. We all have a problem with evil and need God's forgiveness. Confession is acknowledging that we have done wrong, want to turn away from that wrong, and live a different way. When we experience the grace of God, consider the cross of Christ and what He did to forgive us, and when we receive that forgiveness, who are we to not forgive others? And lead us not into temptation. Pray for protection from the evil one. Evil can be so attractive and luring. The evil one tempts; he makes good look boring and evil look exciting.
Prayer is crucial. It is how we connect with God and experience His love, grace, and mercy. Prayer is humbly worshiping God; building an intimacy with Him. Jesus calls us to pray persistently and consistently. Will we allow our spiritual longings to drive us to develop a deeper thirst and appetite for God or will we turn to the options that our culture offers to satisfy our spiritual longings in incomplete ways. Pray, draw upon Him and His Holy Spirit and put your faith in Him. Allow His Holy Spirit to continue to give you a greater appetite to know God better and deeper.
Summary submitted by Karen Walsh
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