I am so pleased with the growing passion for prayer that is happening here at North River.  Thirty-six people have joined the Prayer Cells and are learning to pray with more depth and breadth.  I appreciate your willingness to try something that is new and even a little uncomfortable at first.  I am excited to see what God is doing as we draw near Him in open, honest prayer. 

Harvest Prayer Ministries writes:

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

One of the very real reasons for prayerlessness in the Church is our failure to realize our dependence upon Jesus.  We want to try it our way first, and then pray when our way gets us in trouble.  One of the most practical aspects of prayer is the way it teaches us to lean upon the Lord.  Ronnie Floyd, in How to Pray, says there are two critical aspects to remember about prayer: 1) Prayer occurs when you depend on God and 2) Prayerlessness occurs when you depend on yourself.

A praying church is a church that has learned to depend upon God.  A praying Christian is one who has learned to depend upon God.  The crying need of our day is not more religious activity, but for Christians who will trust the Lord and serve Him out of a greater dependency upon Him.

Father, forgive me for trying to do Your work in my own strength.  Teach me to pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayers.  Help me to walk in complete dependence upon You.

I am grateful that we are learning to depend more on God and less on ourselves.  I can’t wait to see what God does here as we trust Him and serve Him out of a greater dependency upon Him.