On an ordinary sunny day, I was driving to JoAnn Fabrics. After crossing the railroad tracks, I continued on Commerce past the back side of Decatur High (school was not in session). There was a young adult black man standing on the corner of the parking lot across from the Swanton Heights development. He was smiling, waving to drivers, and holding a hand lettered sign that said:

I will Pray 4 You

God wants us to come before Him and pray. He loves to hear from us! As Pastor Lance has said before: not only does God love us, He also likes us. He wants to be with us. We serve a living God with unlimited resources! Yes, we praise Him. Yes, we thank Him. Yes, we live out His way in accordance with His Word. But the aroma of All Souls Fellowship needs to be us loving others well AND praying!

Jesus Himself set our example and continued praying with the Father just as Israel did from Abraham on forward. We follow His way in our lives.

The New Testament offers several profound moments where Jesus demonstrates the importance of prayer, both through his personal actions and his direct teachings to his followers.