Submitted by Andy Sytsma
Last month I attended the CRC Prayer Summit with other leaders from the US and Canada. It's hard to put into words how "full" I felt afterwards. Many people in my church were praying for the Prayer Summit and we felt answers to those prayers. I enjoyed spending time with my dad and reconnecting with good friends from New Jersey. Almost all the Texas Pastors were there. And it was good to make new friends as well. But first and foremost, we were there to pray. We were seeking God's face together and as one speaker said, we were "wasting time" with God and each other. What a better way to "waste time" than to be near to God?
I have a whole notebook full of reflections I'm still processing. The other members of my church who went with me also came away with many practical suggestions for prayer that we are starting to implement. And there are even plans to have a Texas Prayer Summit later this fall! But for me, the two biggest takeaways had to do with persistence in prayer and also being authentic and humble in prayer.
There are areas of prayer in my life that I am strong in and doing a good job. There are also other areas I've been lacking and need to change. One of the things I decided to do is to set aside more time in the morning to pray. I want to do this because I haven't been faithful in lifting up each and every person at my church in prayer and praying over each and every request. And I haven't persevered in prayer. I've been proud, thinking I can pastor my church in my own strength. I've been complacent with the way things are instead of really wrestling with God in prayer for Him to change lives and bring transformation in our community. And I've also lacked vision for why I should pray.
What is that vision? One speaker said, "My hand is only so big. Why would I try and take things into my own hands when God's hands are so much bigger?" Another speaker spoke about that line in the Lord's Prayer that says, "Your kingdom come" and said we can't see that kingdom come in power the way God would want if we're not seeking the King's face first.
Friends, we serve a big God and we want to see Him make a difference in our lives and in this world. But we also need a vision for God Himself. This is the starting place for prayer -- to be near to God and to seek His face.
I'm thankful for everyone who prayed for me and the others at the Prayer Summit. I was also excited that most of the Texas Pastors were there and am looking forward to a Texas Prayer Summit! Let's seek God together, give ourselves fully to Him, and not be shy about "wasting time" with God and one another. And let's pray that God has His way with us and that He uses us to ignite a missional movement in the CRC and beyond. Amen!
