Do You Really Depend on Prayer?

When we think and talk about prayer, we of course are quick to identify ourselves as people who pray, but, are we really? Is prayer something we spend serious time doing, or do we just do it to, "get it out of the way"? Do we really believe the strength and success of our ministry depends on prayer, or, do we really believe the strength and success of our ministry depends on us and what we do?

I think it is all too easy for us to become distracted from where the real power and strength of our ministry lies - with God - and believe it really depends upon us. This is actually a very narcissistic view of ministry, but if we are honest, we are probably leaning towards believing - and acting - like it depends on us, more than we do in believing and acting like it depends on God.

So, how can you tell if you are serious about prayer and depending on God or are actually depending upon yourself? Consider the following questions . . .

• How much time do you really spend in prayer each day?
• How much time to you spend in prayer when you have any meeting for your Children's Ministry?
• How much time do you have the Children's Ministry classes spend in prayer with the children?
• Do you make it a priority to get new prayer requests every week to those who pray for your ministry?
• Do you share answers to prayer with those who pray for your ministry?
• Do you make regular requests for families and the church members in general to be praying for the Children's Ministry?
• Do you make time each week to ask the children for their prayer requests?
• Do you take time each week to pray for the children's prayer requests?
• When you talk about the Children's Ministry, do you tend to talk about what you are doing, or do you share what God is doing?

How did you answer these questions? Your answers - if you are answering honestly - will show you if you actually have a ministry which depends on you, or one which depends on God. Your answers will help you see if you are truly serious about prayer, or not.

Take time to answer these questions, and then spend some real time talking with God about what you discover. We will talk more about prayer in your ministry tomorrow.