Prayer

Expectant and Alert (a focus on prayer)

"Often I find it works best if after I ask for God to speak to me, I devote the next hour or so to some kind of activity that neither engrosses my attention with other things nor allows me to be intensely focused on the matter in question. Housework, gardening, driving about on errands or paying bills will generally do. I do not worry about whether or not this works. I know that it does not have to work, but I am sure that it will work if God has something he really wants me to know or do. This is ultimately because I am sure of how great and good he is.

"Often by the end of an hour or so, there has stood forth within my consciousness an idea or thought with that peculiar quality, spirit and content that I have come to associate with God’s voice. If nothing emerges by the end of an hour or so, I am not alarmed. I make it a point to keep listening. Very often within a day something happens through which God’s voice, recognizably distinct, is heard.

"Reflect: What would be the most suitable “in the meantime” activities for you—ones that don’t require enormous attention or intense focus?"

(Willard, D., & Johnson, J. (2015). Hearing God Through the Year: a 365-Day Devotional.)

As I continue to read each day from this devotional, I continue to be amazed at all the way that I can train myself to hear God speaking. The above was one that I read a few weeks ago that reminded me of Brother Lawrence's famous little book, The Practice of the Presence of God, which teaches that the everyday and mundane is a beautiful place to hear from God when you're paying attention.

“The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.”
— Brother Lawrence

I want to encourage You to invite the Holy Spirit into everything, not just waiting for the 'perfect' moment or right atmosphere. I wonder what we might hear from God when we live each day expectant and alert to Him "in the meantime"?

Praying with you,
Pastor Tracy

This Sunday

FAQs of Jesus
”What is that to you?”

Join us on Sunday at 10am as our Pastor Tracy continues in our series.

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Praying Scripture (another way to read your bible, pray every day, grow, grow, grow)

Here's a devotional idea that you can incorporate into your personal discipleship this summer: praying scripture. This is especially practical if you want to increase your knowledge of the Word and your prayer life at the same time (who doesn't?).

There are so many beautiful prayers in scripture that can help to guide our own prayers. Sometimes we can't find the words to pray what's on our hearts, sometimes we're nervous about what we think we are allowed to say to God, sometimes we just don't know where to begin. Scripture can be a great guide for us

Here are a few great examples to get you started...

And, as you read the bible as part of your personal devotions, watch for prayers. I think you'll find it encouraging and like me, often find prayers that you can send to others to encourage them in the season they are in.

Be blessed as you pray the Word!
Pastor Tracy

This Sunday

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things
"Do Not Be Afraid, Little Flock”

Join us on Sunday at 10am as our Pastor Tracy continues our summer series.

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Let Us Pray (making time for what's important)

Regardless of your spiritual upbringing, your denominational background, or the current status of your faith, chances are good that you think that prayer is important. It's likely that you understand how vital it is to spiritual growth and to your overall walk with Christ. It's also likely that talking about prayer makes you feel: guilty (I know I should pray more!), bored (think: Saturday night prayer meetings as a child), confused (I never quite know what to say or do) or frustrated (I talk to God but never seem to hear from Him.)

While there are volumes and volumes of excellent teaching on prayer and countless seminars and sermons about practicing prayer, when it comes right down to it... do we pray?

What we want to encourage you to do this year is simply be intentional about praying. We want to link arms with you to pray for your needs, our church and for God to do amazing things in our community. We want to set time aside and use as many communication tools as possible to connect us together in prayer.

Sound interesting? We've created a new page on our website that highlights some new ways that we are putting prayer on our calendars, getting our hearts gathered in faith around needs and growing in our dependancy on God. Click the button below and you'll see:

  • Deep Roots

  • Fast & Pray Wednesday

  • A place for your prayer requests

  • Prayer Network: receive prayer requests and reminders

Also, you're going to start to see and read more about the prayer needs of Freedom on all of our platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the email devotional. We want you to know what needs you can bring to God, that your needs are being prayed over, that we are bringing our church and community ministries to Him and we are seeking His purposes in everything we do at Freedom.

So, check out the new page and join us. We are intentionally putting prayer on our calendars and linking arms to see what God might do in and through us. If you're a new to prayer - this is a great way to get started! If you're an experienced intercessor - thank you for joining with us! If you're ready to build new spiritual disciplines in your life - welcome to the challenge!

Joining my heart with yours,
Pastor Tracy

PS - Can't get this old Steven Curtis Chapman song out of my head... might as well share it!

This Sunday

He is I AM
"The True Vine”

Join us on Sunday at 10am as our guest speaker, Rev. Frank Patrick, continues our series.

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About Asking and Giving (we're celebrating Pentecost this Sunday)

This week's devotional thoughts are again from Andrew Murray's Power in Prayer. On Sunday we are celebrating Pentecost and so this excerpt seemed especially appropriate.

"God's giving is inseparably connected with our asking. He applies this principle especially to the gift of the Holy Spirit. As surely as a father on earth gives bread to his child, so God gives the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. One great law rules the whole ministry of the Spirit: We must ask; God must give. When the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost with a flow that never ceases, it was in answer to prayer. 

"Of all the gifts of the early church to which we should aspire, there is none more needed than the gift of prayer - prayer that brings the Holy Spirit into the midst of believers. This power is given to those who say, 'We will give ourselves to prayer.'

"Prayer links the King on the throne with the church at His feet. The church, the human link, receives its divine strength from the power of the Holy Spirit, who comes in answer to their prayers. Where there is much prayer, there will be much of the Spirit; where there is much of the Spirit, there will be ever-increasing prayer. If prayer was the power by which the early church flourished and triumphed, shouldn't it be the same of the church today?"

From Power in Prayer by Andrew Murray

There are some challenging and encouraging things to consider in this brief passage, aren't there? This is a great time to remind you about three important prayer initiatives that we have at Freedom.

  1. Pre-Service Prayer - Sundays @ 9:00-9:30 - You are welcome to come early and pray in the sanctuary while the worship team rehearses. 
  2. Deep Roots - Sunday, May 27 @ 6:00 - Spend time seeking God with others in your church family.
  3. Intercessory Prayer Team - Email prayer@freedomkw.com any time to send your prayer request to our prayer team. They would love to partner in prayer with you.

Can't wait for Pentecost Sunday!
Pastor Tracy

YouVersionschoolofprayer.jpg

This Sunday...

School of Prayer: Teach Us To Ask

There is an interesting difference between Matthew 7 and Luke 11 when Jesus is teaching us how to ask and how good our Father God is. Matthew talks about "good gifts" while Luke defines those "good gifts" as someone very specific - the Holy Spirit. On Sunday we will take a look at these scriptures in light of the amazing events that took place on the Day of Pentecost. I'm looking forward to it. Come with an expectant heart! - P. Tracy

You can follow along with the message on YouVersion Events. Here's the link.