I Need To Pray More

I talk to God all the time! I talk to him when I wake up in the middle of the night. I talk to him when I'm driving. I talk to him as I prepare messages. I pray for my wife. I pray for my daughter, Lauren. I pray for my son, Nick. I pray for this wonderful church that I have an opportunity to serve. I pray for our preschool and academy. I pray for hurting people. I talk to God all the time, but I need to pray more!

I have recently become convicted that I need to pray more. It seems that I let the worries of life or the distractions that come my way keep me from the one thing that is important - my relationship with God and talking with him. I think about how to make my life, my marriage, my parenting, my ministry more effective, yet sometimes I need to just stop and pray and wait for God to answer. I need to pray more... do you?

Does God Have Your Heart?

Do you remember when you realized that you couldn't "make" your wife do what you wanted her to do? I'm told that most people realize this about year seven of the marriage and it takes them until year 10 to stop trying. I also remember the day when I realized that I couldn't "make" my wife or my kids choose Jesus... they had to choose him on their own. But I have spent many years still trying to make those choices for them. Now, I realize that I can have a positive influence on them, but when it comes to the choice to follow Jesus or not, it is all up to them!

I have been the lead pastor at Antioch for about 16 months, and I am reminded that just like my wife, daughter and son, I can't "make" anyone follow God! It is easy to think that through the right programs or the right message or the right convincing announcement, I could cause a deep desire to follow Jesus, but if God doesn't have your heart, these things will not affect you. Does God have your heart? You might attend our weekend celebration and you might not! You might give the way God wants you to give, but probably not! You might serve in ministry and you might not! You might share your faith with someone who doesn't know Jesus, but probably not! Does God have your heart?

I want you to know that I resign! I give up! I can't make people follow God! It's not my responsibility to make people follow God! But I will tell you one thing I can control... I WILL FOLLOW GOD! I WILL LET GOD HAVE MY HEART! Will you?