Honest Thoughts from a Pastor

I don’t doubt that many of you read this post title and thought, “Matthew has lost his mind!” My response – “You have stated the obvious😂.” Seriously. I would not label Bon Jovi a theologian, but his lyrics, “Oh, we’re halfway there. Oh, living on a prayer,” is right. The year is halfway over, and prayer is very much on the minds of anyone who is concerned about the status of our world.

As I reflect on this, I can’t help but think how many of us would agree that prayer is powerful while our prayer lives do not reflect it. We may pray over meals or when we want something from God. I know I’m guilty of not desperately crying out to God in this crucial time in history like I should. If we’re honest, I’m not alone in this.

Here is what the Bible says about prayer – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬). God says here to pray about everything. It’s a command. Some of the “everything” should include our government, the Coronavirus situation, and the racism we see in our country. I don’t care where you are in this discussion, I think we can at least agree we need some prayer.

We are halfway there…well, at least to the end of 2020. Some of us are probably thinking we are over halfway gone as a nation and a society. Don’t build your theology off Bon Jovi and just live on a prayer. Live on a bunch of them! Better yet, live in full confidence in the God who answers prayer! You might be amazed at how He works.