Pastor Rick Hudgens | Relearning Prayer

Sunday/Apr/2010 13:49

April 25, 2010

We live in a hectic, noisy world. People rush from one commitment to another, often trying to squeeze in even more responsibilities along the way. Sadly, our frantic scheduling and multi-tasking even impacts our relationships, which can cause some people in our lives to feel neglected or insignificant. It’s a far different picture, however, when we look at the relationship God wants to have with His people.

Psalm 34:15-18 reveals His intense desire to hear
from us:

The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right;His ears are open to their cries for help. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil;He will erase their memory from the earth.The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.The righteous person faces many troubles,but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.

Because He is “attentive to [our] cries” (verse 15), we can be assured that our prayers don’t just bounce off the ceiling. God listens because He cares. And this compassion leads to powerful acts on our behalf when we seek Him in prayer. Today, Pastor Rick continues sharing his heart about the importance of meeting with others in corporate prayer.

Listen

Pastor Rick Hudgens | How Corporate Prayer Will Change Our Church

Sunday/Apr/2010 13:16

April 18, 2010

One day a woman was rushing home from a doctor’s appointment. The doctor had been somewhat delayed at the hospital, and the lab work took a little longer than usual so by the time she left the clinic she was running quite a bit behind schedule. She still had to pick up her prescription, pick up the children from the baby-sitter, and get home and make supper, all in time to make it to the prayer meeting at her church that evening.

As she began to circle the busy Wal-Mart parking lot, looking for a space, the windows of heaven were opened and a downpour began. While she wasn’t usually the type to bother God with small problems, she began to pray as she turned down the row closest to the front door. "Lord, you know what kind of a day I’ve had, and there’s still an awful lot to do. Could you please grant me a parking space right away, oh, and close to the building so I don’t get soaked."

The words weren’t even completely out of her mouth when she saw the backup lights of a car come on at the end of the row. It was the best space in the whole parking lot, right next to the handicap spots and straight out from the front door. She made straight for it and as she pulled in, she said, “Never mind God, something just opened up."

Is this the way we pray? That is, do we only pray if we’re in need but when the need is over, we cease praying? Or else we don’t give the Lord any credit?

Today, Pastor Rick presents a message that is from the heart of your pastor more than from the notes of a teacher. This message was born out of tears that Pastor Rick experienced in a personal time with God.

Listen