The inaugural service in the newly-renovated Ramsay-McCrummen Chapel at Judson college in Marion featured Rick Lance and a message on prayer.
The chapel had been closed for two years during renovations to the Jewett Hall complex.
Lance, executive director for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, noted terms used frequently in churches – prayer warriors, prayer partners and prayerwalkers. But he added one that is not often heard – prayer struggler.
“I have to admit that there have been times in my life that I’ve been a prayer struggler,” Lance said. “Sometimes in the dry periods of discouragement prayer doesn’t come easily. It’s discipline that we must develop in our walk with God.”
Lance said preoccupations often keep Christians away from God in prayer, including the “if only’s” of the past and the “what if’s” of the future. “We must learn to let go of the past and trust the future to a loving God,” he said. “His love is strong and it never ends. We can trust our lives to this kind of love.”
Another preoccupation Lance mentioned is the busyness of life. “Sometimes we get too busy to pray,” he said. “This is dangerous ground for Christians. If we’re too busy to pray then we’re just too busy.”
“We can also be too busy to remain in prayer and listen to God,” Lance noted. “Listening is a lost art.” There ought to be classes on how to listen. We must learn to continue in prayer and listen for the voice of God.”
Lance said Christians should have the attitude of the disciples who said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” There are no Ph.D.’s in prayer, he said, and one continues to learn more about prayer as it is practiced.
(JC)
Share with others: