March 25, 2019

Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,

Our Lenten Series continues this week with the theme of Prayer with Reverend Nannette "Robin" Walker.

Blessings to you!

Reverend Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Assistant Pastor

“Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.” [Isaiah 58:1-2]

It is in prayer that we can cry aloud to God. It is in prayer that we delight in approaching God. The Bible goes on to say many things about prayer. Prayer is the way that we communicate our thoughts, needs, and desires to God. There are many reasons we pray, and there are even formulaic ways in which we pray – head bowed, eyes closed, hands raised, prostrate at an altar, etc. In whichever way prayer happens, know that our omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God hears every word, silent prayer, and pities every groan.

Having the privilege of prayer, I thought that perhaps my observance this year would be an affirmative act to change my behavior or my being as a follower of Christ. So, I purposed to pray differently during this Lenten season than I normally pray. I will pray with intention. I will pray more from my heart than from my head. I will pray more from my heart and less from my ego. I will not pray seeking praise but seeking to be more like Jesus. And, while praying each day I will act with more mercy and I will act with more justice. For what does the LORD require of you? “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly] with your God” [Micah 6:8 NIV]. Each day during this Lenten season I will strive to be more patient and just a little gentler in my interactions with others. In praying each day, I will seek to imitate Christ. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! [Philippians 2:5-8 NIV]. If Jesus was willing to empty himself of divinity, shouldn’t we be able to empty ourselves of vainglory, of self-importance, of self-interest, of pride, of ego? Remember Paul’s words to the Thessalonians: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…”

Devotion

Almighty and all-knowing God, you know our hearts. Teach us to walk in your ways and love your creations as you love us. Amen.

For further contemplation:
Psalm 66:18
Daniel 9:18
Matthew 6:5-15
Matthew 26:42
Colossians 4:2
1 John 5:14

Reverend Nannette “Robin” Walker is an Associate Minister at Allen Temple
where she also serves in Global Ministry and New Members Ministry.
Rev. Walker says, “I am a sinner saved by Grace.”