by Dale Reeves

Story Pastor

 

A couple of years ago there was a controversy in the National Football League as some players chose to kneel during our country’s national anthem. They felt they were taking a stand for racial equality, but many others saw it as a sign of disrespect for our country. As a child I was taught to stand at attention for the pledge of allegiance, but to bow in prayer to Almighty God. I love the images that you sometimes see at the end of a game when the Christ followers on two opposing teams kneel together in unity in the center of the field to give thanks to God for his mercy and provision. And we will never forget the images from a year ago when Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field, leading the teams, the whole league, TV sportcasters, and our nation to go to our knees in prayer on behalf of Damar.

 

How do you view prayer in your own life? As your first priority, or as a last resort? How you actually practice prayer on a weekly basis reveals how important you view it, either as an indispensable in your walk with God, or as just “another tool in your spiritual bag of tricks.” Do you see God as your loving heavenly Father who cares about all your needs as you talk with him every day, or do you view him as a cosmic genie that you only go to when you need something?

 

This past Sunday our senior minister Brad Wilson began a new teaching series entitled “Blueprint.” He opened the new year by teaching on the indispensable of prayer in our lives. To view that teaching, you can check it out here. At the end of that message Brad asked a very pertinent question:

 

“What if God has been trying to communicate something to you but you haven’t slowed down to listen?”

 

Kneel Before God

At its core, prayer is real talk to a real God. But sometimes we overcomplicate it. Have you ever wondered things like this when it comes to prayer:

  • What am I supposed to do with my hands?
  • Does my prayer count if my eyes aren’t closed?
  • Am I supposed to address my prayer to God or to Jesus?

 

You ever need God to help you in a tough situation? Sometimes we only come to him when we’re desperate for help! Sometimes we get stressed if we think we might have to pray out loud, and we’re afraid we won’t do it right. Maybe that’s because sometimes we approach prayer like it’s fine china. Does your mom or grandmother have any fine china displayed in their house? You know, fancy (and really expensive) plates and bowls and platters? Perhaps they have tiny little flowers painted on them. Maybe they sit in a special cabinet. If you know what I’m talking about, I guarantee that there are rules about the fine china. Only certain people are allowed to use them, you get yelled at if you run or jump or toss a ball in their general vicinity, and they’re only brought out for very special occasions.

 

Have there been times in your life when praying felt a lot like your grandmother’s fine china? You felt like you needed to be very careful, and needed to speak softly and respectfully. You were afraid of doing it wrong, of accidentally breaking something. But what if the fine-china approach to prayer was never how it was intended? What if prayer is supposed to be less about rules and formulas, and more about discovery . . . like putting Legos together? When kids are putting together Legos, pieces are flying everywhere, and it might not be so orderly. Before a project comes together it might look like a mess, but eventually it comes together as a masterpiece. Maybe that’s how God wants us to come to him . . . he wants you to be honest with all the pieces in your life, and talk to him as you would your best friend.

 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6: “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:5, 6, NLT).

 

Jesus is saying that the goal of prayer isn’t to use big fancy words. God is looking for people who talk to him just because they want to, not because they want to be heard or want someone to think they are smart and religious. He desires a conversation and a real connection with us. And, just like in communication with others, it’s not a one-way street. It has to go both ways. It means that we listen, we are in the moment, and we actually hear what others are saying. In our communication with God, he wants us to be still, to yield, to sit and listen to him. When you give God the time and space to speak, he will speak to you!

 

Stand for Jesus

In the wake of my beloved Bengals missing the playoffs this year, I needed a cause with a team I could get behind the next few weeks in the NFL. I found it. Perhaps you’ve heard something about the season the Houston Texans have had this year with their rookie quarterback out of Ohio State, C.J. Stroud. And, before you accuse me of jumping on the bandwagon, I have a right to care about the Texans. Our family lived in Webster (south of Houston) for almost five years where I was youth/associate minister at Bay Area Christian Church. Both of my daughters were born in Clear Lake Hospital in Webster so they can claim that they are “native Texans.” I also learned to really love good Tex-Mex while living there.

 

Rookie C.J. Stroud and first-year coach DeMeco Ryans became only the fifth set of newcomers in NFL history to make the playoffs, after leading a turnaround in Houston, going from last place to first in the AFC South. Stroud became just the third player in league history to lead the league in passing yards per game (273.9) and touchdown/interception ratio (4.6) in the same season. The other two? Tom Brady in 2007 and San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana in 1989. Both of those quarterbacks went on to win MVP and Offensive Player of the Year during those seasons.

 

But what is most impressive to me is how Stroud has exhibited Christlike humility both on and off the field. He has been very vocal about his walk with Christ and has constantly given all glory to his Savior for his success. In an interview this week, while sporting a T-shirt with a picture of Jesus on the front, Stroud said, “My foundation as a man is that I’m a man of God. I’ve been scarred and battle-tested, but I have the armor of God on me. . . . When I got to college, I found Christ for myself . . . I’m definitely not perfect, but I feel like God put me on this platform to preach his word.”

 

Stroud continues,

“Jesus laid his life on the cross for us. This is bigger than just football. Football is my platform. Spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is my purpose.”

 

If you want to see C.J.’s postgame interview after last week’s win over the Colts, watch the first few minutes here.

 

Wow, what a mission statement, one that we would do well to emulate in 2024. Would you be able to say that . . . “Spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is my purpose”?! I would challenge you in this new year to not only get on your knees before God every day, but to stand for Jesus every day as well!

 

Jesus himself said, “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32, NLT).