Pastor Martin Carl Jarvis mcjarvissr@yahoo.com #3 "Relationship with God"

LIBERTY WORSHIP CENTER www.lwcenter.org The Twelve Point Focus of the 21st Century Church (return)

     As Christians, we spend inordinate amounts of time going the "wrong way".  Most of our lives we are faced with constant choices, "Do I turn left, or right?"  To be in relationship with God, where we could actually hear His direction would save us a lot of time and grief.

     But, even in relationship with God (just like any relationship) sometimes we just don't listen.  And then even in spite of relationship, many wrong decisions are made.

     The church must make helping it's parishioners to foster a real relationship with God.  The problem is that most churches are lacking in ability or willingness to do what is necessary to create the proper environment.  It's going to take a commitment to vast amounts of corporate prayer.  Not just prayer part of the service on Sundays, but actual times set aside to actually talk to God... and then to listen.  - Maybe prayer/meditation exercises - to accustom the individual to not onlyy to prayer-speak, but to prayer-listen.

    It is imperative that the prayer speaking/meditation be done corporately and indefinitely.  And parishioners must be moved to prayer-speak/meditate at home, as well.  Many eastern religions have numerous times each day set aside simply to pray.  The caveat is to avoid turning these prayer times into ritual, but as an exciting time to personalize and galvanize ones own relationship with the living God. Amen.