by John Gilberts

The moment God spoke creation into existence to this very day, the world around us communicates God's greatness. From the intricate beauty of the smallest flower to the myriad colors that dance across the sky at sunset, the message declaring God's creative power surrounds us. He came here and walked among us, demonstrating the ultimate love and sacrifice. He gave us his Word in written form so that we might come to know Him. He filled us with the Holy Spirit so that we might interact with Him and He might counsel us every minute of every day. All of these things and so many more lead us to one logical conclusion—God desires to communicate with us. He desires that we know Him. He desires that we relate with Him. These desires form the heart of the gospel message: You too can have a relationship with the God who created the world and died for your sins. I wonder, do we still believe the message we are sharing? What do I really believe?

Belief is such a tricky thing. Of course we believe that God wants to have a relationship with us. We believe that God created the world. We believe that God can communicate with us. At least that is what every one of us would say if someone asks. Yet, sometimes our actions give lie to all the things we say we believe. How can I say that I believe the Creator of the Universe wants to talk to me and yet struggle to fit time with Him into my busy schedule of work and ministry? When I do pray, am I listening or just telling him my ideas?

As we enter into this special time of communion with God, let's take time to search our hearts and come to grips with what we believe about prayer. I would like to challenge you with the same challenges I face every time I pray.

• Take the time. We are all busy, but I know that if we make the effort to seek Him during these weeks, He will respond. 
• Let Him speak. In the quietness of our hearts we will hear Him. He already knows all about next week’s prayer meeting, your car repairs, and financial needs. During this season, focus on asking God to answer the deeper questions of your heart.
• Respond to what He is telling you. Sometimes God uses those quiet moments of prayer to encourage me, sometimes to admonish me, and sometimes to break me. If God is to use us in the way that I think we all want to be used, we are going to have to first let Him work in us.
• Share what you are hearing with someone, if you are married, talk about it with your spouse. If you are single, share it with a friend. I find that God gets the most traction in my life when I let my wife know what God is telling me and she can walk alongside me.

We all need each other if we are going to see God’s Kingdom advance in Europe. To help discover where you are in relationship to God on the issue of prayer, consider this simple story:

A man has fallen into a raging river, and holds on desperately to a slippery rock. Further downstream, he sees another man standing near the bank with a rope in his hand. The man in the river has a handful of choices. He can just relax and try to float down the river hoping for the best, but this path leads almost certainly to death crushed by his environment or pulled beneath the waves. He can try to swim to the bank, but the cold waters are already pulling him under. He can call out to the man on the bank who has the ability to save him. As the current relentlessly tries to pull him under, he becomes desperate. He must choose. The waters rage and the bank lies far away. If the man is worn out he may just relax and let nature take it's course, no longer caring about the consequences. If the man in the river thinks he can make it to the edge, he will try to make it unassisted. (It is always our nature to try to make it on our own.) If he truly believes that his only chance for survival is to get the attention of the man on the shore, he will call out like a madman to get his attention. One choice requires nothing and gets nothing, one choice requires stamina, and one choice requires faith. What we do shows us what we really believe. Are we defeated, defiant, or dependant?

Those who do not believe do not pray. This is a good functional definition of faith. Faith prays, unbelief does not. —John A. Hardon

How desperate do we feel about our situation in Europe? Do we think we can make it on our own? Are we swimming or ministering for all we're worth? Are we floating along in resignation waiting for it all to be over? Or are we ready to cry out in desperation, because the stakes truly are life and death, not only for us, but for 500 million others throughout Europe? Are we ready to treat prayer like the vital lifeline of two-way communication with the Creator it was meant to be?

Week 1: Reflections

1. Spend time in prayer meditating on all the ways that God is trying to communicate with you. Are you listening? Can you hear Him? Do you see Him in the world around you? Ask Him to speak to you and your family during this season in a deep and meaningful way.
2. Regardless of your artistic talents take time to express yourself artistically in a way that represents your life if you were the man in the river today. This could be anything from stick figures, to poetry or song, to painting. If possible share your picture with your spouse or friends.
3. In prayer ask God how He sees the picture you drew. Spend time meditating on the warm embrace of God's mercy and redemptive power in your life. In the ultimate sense He has already saved you from the river! He also wants to meet you where you are right now.

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