Pastor Clayton ~ July

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Philippians 4:6

When I was ten years old my family moved just north of Fond du Lac, into the country, off of U.S. 45. With the move came more space in the house, more space in the yard, and… more space between us and town. Whenever we went into Fond du Lac, it seemed like the commute was always fifteen minutes. Driving to the store? It took fifteen minutes to get there. Heading to church? It took fifteen minutes to get there. Going to Kwik Trip to pick up milk? It took fifteen minutes to get there.

With this constant commute time in our lives, it was common for our father to ask at least one of us kids if we wanted to ride with him into town. We’d often say yes. As a child, I thought he asked so that we could go to the place he was going. As a parent, I now realize he was asking for the conversation that would take place in the car.

When Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6, He tells them to start by saying, “Our Father.” While explaining what this means in the Small Catechism, Martin Luther wrote, “With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.”

Prayer is the way in which we speak with God. And God wants you to speak with Him, just like my father wanted us kids to speak with him. God wants to hear from you about all kinds of things. He wants you to give thanks to Him and to call on Him in times of trouble. He wants you to share the good and ask for help when facing the bad. He wants you to speak to Him, trusting that He hears you like a father hears their child.

Prayer is a central activity in the Christian life. It is a gift we have been given that we can take part in at any time, no matter if we have five, fifteen, or fifty minutes to do so.

On July 19, we’re refreshing the prayer list we have at Immanuel. We’re doing it, in part, to help include some others we want to be praying for each week. But we’re also doing it to help give us all a way to pray for each other throughout the week. On that new prayer list, you’ll find guidance for why we pray and how to do it, as well as a list of those to keep in your prayer each week. I hope it is helpful in shaping how you speak with your Father about all the things life brings.

Blessings,

Pastor Bryce