I hope this email finds you well and enjoying the summer season with the dog days upon us!
As we gather together tonight for prayer, I want to spark some reflection on the significance of prayer. Let’s consider this question:
Why should we devote ourselves to prayer?
Well, when we look at the life of Jesus, we see that he often took moments to slip away from the crowds and his disciples to pray.
Whether in the morning or at night, in public or in private, before or after performing miracles or making decisions, Jesus consistently made time for prayer.
As his followers, we are likewise called to devote ourselves to fervent prayer, seeking the fullness of God in every aspect of our lives, as we’ll discover in Colossians 4:2-6.
Paul urges the believers in the church of Colossae to “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Prayer is not just a nice activity to do if we have spare time. No, prayer holds a more profound significance in our daily lives—at least, it should be as followers of Jesus.
So, as followers of Jesus, why do we devote ourselves to prayer?
Through prayer, we enter into an intimate relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, interceding on our behalf and for others.
Prayer is the avenue of communication of speaking and listening as we learn to seek God’s will and experience His nature—holiness, righteousness, truth, love, grace, mercy, patience, kindness, and so on. It aligns our hearts with God’s purpose and brings about transformative change within us, enabling us to extend His grace and love to all people.
You see, prayer is as essential to our spiritual life as air is to our physical existence. Just as we need air to sustain us and give us life, prayer is a vital spiritual discipline for maintaining our relationship with God and others.
Through our inner life of prayer, we are equipped to outwardly navigate the complexities of life with godly wisdom, compassion, and understanding. Our private prayer life shapes how we act and speak, becoming a public display of the Gospel for all to witness and experience.
As Paul emphasizes, our interactions with others hold great significance. He encourages us to act wisely towards outsiders, seize every opportunity, and let our conversations be filled with grace and seasoned with salt so that we may know how to respond to everyone. (vv5-6)
Our actions and words should flow from our deep connection with God, shaping how we embody the Gospel where we work, live, and play.
But to embody the Gospel with grace and intentionality, we must align our hearts with God’s heart through prayer. Doing so cultivates a sensitivity in our hearts to the needs of those around us to extend God’s love, kindness, and truth, all under the empowering guidance of the Holy Spirit.
So, let God’s love compel us to pray, earnestly seeking Him and standing firm in His will as we grow in maturity and assurance as His church.
Your presence and prayers are vital as God opens doors for us to proclaim the unwavering love and truth, and mystery of Christ Jesus in a multiethnic, multigenerational context.
We’ll see you tonight at 8 pm via Zoom as we lift our voices and hearts in prayer.
God bless,
Pastor Alvin & Mallary Brown
alvin@makingamosaic.com :: mallary@makingamosaic.com
P.S.S. Mark your calendar and join us for food and fun at The Brown’s house (text The Browns for location details).
Sunday, July 16th @ 5 pm
Sunday, Aug. 6th @ 5 pm
General Prayer Requests & Updates
For evangelism to flourish so communities and campuses in the greater Fort Worth area will be reached, and the lost will see and experience the love of Christ and be drawn to his kingdom.
For signs and wonders to follow the preaching of His Word.
For team unity and laborers to help carry the load.
For finances and provisions.
For fully funded campus missionaries (2 per campus) to help reach the next generation — University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Texas Christian University (TCU), Tarrant County College (TCC), Texas Wesleyan University (TWU) and Tarleton State University – Fort Worth (TSU).
Alvin Brown, the Lead Pastor of Mosaic Church Fort Worth, brings over a decade of pastoral ministry experience and more than 20 years of operational and technical leadership expertise. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications Management from DeVry University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. He enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Mallary, and their three children and contributing as a writer to various media outlets.
