Lord, Prepare us for the road ahead. Amen

Reading: 1Kings 8:22-29 (NRSV)

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication 

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. 1Kings 8:22

Why do people pray? Why should people pray? Normally it is when they want or need something they believe is of some measure of value to them and they believe that God can bring it to them. We pray for many other reasons, too, such as during the course our worship or thanksgiving for gifts received. However, it is most likely that most of our prayers are to ask God for His help, protection or guidance as we move through our own unique states of the human condition. When things are particularly serious, when the storms of life are raging around you, we give ourselves over to a time of extended prayer until we feel a sense of release and relief from our circumstances. In other words: We PUSH - Pray Until Something Happens. We seek to PUSH our way into the Presence of God. 

But why PUSH for 100 plus days? The family of Hiss United Methodist Church is entering an important time of transition. Our Pastor for the last 8 years, Rev. Mark Smiley, is moving on to a new appointment as a Clergy Guide in the Western Region of Maryland and his last day in the pulpit is June 17, 2012. He has been a great friend to many of us and has ministered to us with much care. As with any type of separation on a relationship there are issues of grief to address with those left behind. It is not like the grief associated with death -- but people will undoubtedly miss Mark. 

Prayer will allow us to work out these issues as we need to as individuals and a church family. Prayer will also allow us to prepare ourselves for receiving and welcoming our new Pastor Rev. Tim Dowell on July 1, 2012. There is much that we need to do to prepare ourselves for making new history. No one person can do everything necessary to provide for a smooth transition and these needs will change everyday. New challenges, simple and not so simple, will be placed before us and we must rise to meet the challenge. We must strive to prepare ourselves for an extended time of PUSHing.

The 100plus days of prayer is simply a way of bringing before God the broad range of issues, from the simple to the complex, from the possible, nearly impossible and the perceived to be impossible challenges and concerns that will inevitably show up before us. Family stuff will still happen, life will still happen, people will still want to get married, people will still end up in the hospitals, death will come. All this will still require us to come along side each other with words of comfort. 

There is nothing really magical about 100 plus days, it's just that it was the number placed on my heart by the Holy Spirit. It covers the time between when Pastor Mark leaves and Pastor Tim begins and for about three months beyond that. The intent is only that we bring God what is on our hearts as we prepare for the new history God is preparing for us in the days, weeks, months, years ahead. 

100 days is a long time to try and sustain a regular daily regimen of prayer. It is difficult but not impossible. I am asking for only a few minutes each day of PUSHing. It is striving more for a pattern of consistency than length of time. Find a time when you find some quiet, on your way to work for example, on a lunch break, before you go to bed or when you wake up to that first cup of coffee. Any time is always a good time to intentionally place yourself as Solomon did, into the Lord's presence.

Matthew 7:7 - 8: Jesus said "Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Jesus teaches us to be persistent in prayer not so much to persuade God to give us what we want but, to transform us from the inside out in the process.  James 5:16b 'The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.' 

I encourage you to give yourself over to this 100 plus day discipline. Believe God will bless you and strengthen you for this journey.  

Let us Pray:

Lord, we seek to come into your presence, aware of your holiness but drawn by your gentleness.

We come because we have heard of your mercy, and we come seeking your love.

We come confessing that you are the Creator, aware of our need of your re-creation.

We come into your presence declaring your Sovereignty and majesty and ready to offer thanksgiving and glory to your name.

We seek to come into your presence knowing that you are our judge but trusting your mercy and the grace of your Son Jesus Christ.

We seek to come into your presence because you are worthy of our worship and commitment; we come because you have called us into this moment and we come because in you we have life, hope, and eternal life through your Son Jesus Christ. 

We seek to come into your presence during this time of transition and preparation to grow and mature in our faith; our hope; and our love for you and our neighbors as you have taught us to do. 

We come to pray for each other in Christ's name: Lord, Prepare us for the road ahead. Amen