The Year of Prayer

Prayer is something that I have been severely neglecting in my spiritual walk.  I know how important it is and how many times we are encouraged to do it in Scripture.  Prayer is one of those things that do not come easy for me, so I am going to have to put in a lot of work until I get used to it.  I really want to be a person of prayer, but have been making excuses long enough.  Now is the time to dedicate myself to communing with God.  I plan to pray every morning this year and document the changes it makes in my life.

We Are the Body Part 1

^{Romans 12
4}Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

I hope to make this a regular series talking about how we are the body of Christ and how the metaphor works for each body part.  Today we talk about the body overall.

Paul uses the concept of the human body to teach how Christians should live and work together.  Just as the parts of the body function under the direction of the brain, so Christians are to work together under the command and authority of Jesus Christ. Even though we have different functions, we should be united and working together for a single purpose and not looking down on each other for what we do or do not do.  (See 1Cor 12:12-31; Eph 4:1-16)

Psalm 1:1

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

The writer begins this psalm extolling the joys of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule him. Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to God’s will. This attitude is the same as mocking. Do your friends build up your faith, or do they tear it down? True friends should help you to draw closer to God, not hinder your relationship with Him.