Giving an occasional “Nod to God” might make us feel like righteous, spiritual minded dudes for a little while, but if we want to experience true fellowship with the Almighty, omnipotent, maker and ruler of heaven and earth, well, fellas, we’ve got to do better than that. A quick prayer here and there does not nurture our relationship with God. Think about it: If all the attention you gave your M was an every-once-and-awhile quick “hello, hi there, please do this and that for me. Gotta go. Love you, mean it,” she’d leave your sorry carcass and find some one she could have a true relationship with.
Yet we treat God this way. We do. How much time do we really spend with the God who created us in love for fellowship? How much time with the God who came to us in our sinfulness, made a way at the highest cost possible to Himself for our forgiveness and inclusion in all His goodness and inheritance? How much real time do we spend with this loving Heavenly Father?
If all our time with God is the COT, it’s not enough. If it’s just some quick morning prayers that amount to giving God His “to do list” well, that’s insulting. When do we approach the throne of grace in humility and reverence, asking God, not what can He do for us, but what we might have the awesome privilege to do for Him and for His Kingdom’s sake? When do we approach to thank more than to ask/beg/demand?
Okay, I’ll get to the point of this rant on prayer. The point is, we need more of it and we need to grow in our time and attention to the 3rd F. Our spiritual leader, Markup, has tried and tried. Well, he’s trying again. Here’s the new 3rd F opportunity:
We will meet for coffee and prayer each Tuesday immediately following the Howitzer workout at First Baptist Church’s “Connection Center.” This will be a time to share prayer requests, pray for one another, pray to God to help us become the men He created us to be, to know His will, and to have the courage to do His will.
I’ll have the coffee ready when you arrive following the workout and Markup will act as facilitator. We will go right to work sharing requests and praying. You will be out the door by 6:45. 7 at the latest. We promise.
Come and get you some – some 3rd F, that is. We need to grow in this area. We’re doing great with the 1st F but becoming physically fit is NOT the battle. It’s only part of the battle. The battle, the REAL BATTLE, is becoming spiritually fit. The battlefield is our prayer life. It’s where we encounter God, listen to God, are loved by God and shaped by God into who He created us and redeemed us to be.
I hope to see many of you following the Howitzer workout each Tuesday morning.
Abraham
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