As Harvest enters into a season of pastoral transitions, I want to call us to a season of focused prayer.

Prayer can become so ordinary and ubiquitous in our public lives as Christians, that we can often forget just how radical an idea it really is. We pray at mealtimes, morning and bed-times. We open and close meetings in prayer. For many years, it’s been Harvest’s practice — and before us the practice of Christians around the world — to hold a congregational prayer meeting.

What is happening when we pray? The king of heaven and earth, stoops down towards his beloved children, and listens to our cries. When we forget our relationship with the king of the universe our hearts become cynical.

Paul Miller writes, in his book, “A Praying Life:”

“Without the Good Shepherd, we are alone in a meaningless story. Weariness and fear leave us feeling overwhelmed, unable to move. Cynicism leaves us doubting, unable to dream. The combination shuts down our hearts, and we just show up for life, going through the motions.”

If you feel alone today, just going through the motions, here are some encouragements from Scripture to bolster your prayer life. I won’t qualify and teach much here so the Bible speaks for itself, since it’s likely you’ve encountered good teaching on prayer before.

As an example, the best summary definition I’ve found of prayer comes from our shorter catechism:

“What is prayer? Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies” (WSC 98).

1. God Hears and Answers Our Prayers:

• Matthew 7:7–11: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
• Genesis 25:21: Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Luke 1:13: But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.2 Corinthians 1:9–11: Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

2. God Desires to Hear our Prayers Continuously:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray without ceasing.
• Ephesians 6:18 …praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
• Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
• Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
• Psalm 55:16-17 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

3. The Holy Spirit Helps and Molds Ours Weak Prayers:

• Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
• John 14:25-26 These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
• John 16:13-15 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

4. Christ Lives Now to Pray for Us When Our Faith Fails

• Hebrews 7:23-25 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
• Luke 22:31-32: Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

Specific areas of pastoral transitions for prayer:

• This past Tuesday evening, Harvest voted to call Daniel Miller to fill it’s Pastor of Ministry Operations position. Daniel and his wife Ali are now in a period of discernment as they consider this significant transition. Please pray for them, and their three children, as they make this decision.
• Harvest session is interviewing Eddie Mercado and considering inviting him to candidate for the soon to be vacant Associate Pastor position. Pray for wisdom for our elders and congregation as we consider another pastoral candidate.
• Northwest Grand Rapids church plant: pray for Wayne, Suzanne and their kids as they work together to prepare to launch a new church plant this fall. If you are interested in learning more about this, you can attend an information meeting led by Pastor Wayne on Monday night, March 31 (6:45-8 PM at Harvest). Attending the information meeting is not a commitment to join the church-plant. All are welcome.