Don't Try This Alone

Don’t Try This Alone!

Acts 1: 12-17, 20-26

              

                In January I celebrated my 40th birthday.  I’ve been thinking a lot about my life over the last several months: my childhood, the places I’ve been, the things I’ve done, the people I’ve known, the obstacles I’ve overcome and the things I’ve achieved.  It’s easy to say, “Wow, look where I’ve been on my journey of life.  All the major turns and tumbles I have lived through, the achievements and milestones I have accomplished.  I have done good for myself.  I’m doin’ alright.”  It’s very easy for me to say it has been all me all along. 

                But when I take a closer look, I realize that it hasn’t been all me all along.  The good stuff in my life wasn’t always gotten by me and me alone.  I didn’t achieve great things or reach major milestones on my own.  I did not face the turns and tumbles of my life under my own strength and courage. 

                I realize that I have never been alone.  I realize that there were numerous people who lived before me who set the stage for my life.  I think about my ancestors, my parents, my aunts and uncles who love and care for me.  I remember all the friends I’ve made whose gift of friendship made life more meaningful and enjoyable.  I remember all the key moments and how particular people were there for me in particular situations. 

                And above all else, I realized that God has always been the primary player in the course of my life.  God has helped me through the tough times by carrying me through and by placing important people in key life situations.  I have never been alone.  None of us have ever been alone.

                All of us are wholly and solely dependent on God for all our needs.  In our own strength we can do nothing.  It is God who strengths us and supports us through each day of our lives.  Without God’s blessing and direction in our lives, what we do is ineffective and futile. 

                But how are we to know what direction to go?  How do we communicate with God to find out what we are to do each day?  Prayer is the key means of communicating with God and to know what direction God wants our lives to take. 

                The Apostles knew this all too well.  Right from the start, when making decisions they turned to God in prayer seeking God’s blessing and direction.  As we read today, their first decision was choosing the person to replace Judas, the disciple who as we all know betrayed Jesus.  From the text it seems that there was some deliberation amongst the group.  They soon narrowed it down to two people:  Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias.  This is the point when they prayed.  It is a prayer seeking God’s guidance and direction on who to select as Judas’ replacement.  And Matthias turned out to be the man for the job. 

                I think it is safe to say that the entire book of Acts is dominated by prayer.  There are dozens of passages that describe the apostles in prayer each day in all kinds of situations.  Chapter seven refers to Stephen in prayer.  Chapter ten describes Peter as sitting on a roof praying.  And chapter sixteen we read about Peter and Silas praying at midnight.  The early apostles were constantly in prayer with God.

                To know what God wants for us as individuals and as a church community, we must devote ourselves to prayer and praying God’s Word.  As a church, we are indeed a church dominated by prayer.

                We have a prayer chain with the names of friends and family in need that is updated each week and printed in our bulletin.  We begin and close every church meeting with prayer.  Every week the youth fellowship ends their time together with a circle of prayer.  Our church family is saturated with prayer.

We know that before we act, we must pray.  Before we do anything, as we walk the journey that is our life, we must commit our course of action, that is, our every step, to God through prayer.  For the journey of life is long, full of twists and turns, accomplishments and achievements, high points and low ones, no two moments are alike.  But the good news is that we don’t have to walk this journey alone.  The journey of life is not designed to be lived in isolation.  It is made to be lived in partnership with God in Christ Jesus.  God is with us every step of the way and through prayer God lets us know which steps are to be taken and when.  So before you act, pray.  Don’t try this alone.  Amen.