by Matt Grant

MH Shoreline Youth Director, Reagan North, led us in devotions on Matthew 6:7-8. We looked more deeply into our motives and the words we speak during prayer. What are our prayer requests? What is the focus of our prayers? Do we pray for our own needs? If so, is that selfish? Do we trust our hearts (which are deceptive and tainted with sin) to lead us in prayer? What are the motives for our prayers? Is it for God’s glory or our own selfish desires and supposed needs? Why pray if God knows our needs before we pray them? These are many of the questions we mulled over; and I encourage you to ponder these and your own motives in prayer as well.

Pastor Steve drew us back to the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and Romans 15:30 , which encourage us to strive by Jesus and the Holy Spirit in prayer for the desires of our heart to be illuminated and tested as to whether or not our prayers are in alignment with God’s will and the seeking of His glory. At the heart of our prayers should be a yearning for God to be glorified and His will be done.

Please be in prayer for the following:

• Pray that those being called and drawn to Mars Hill would jump on mission in living as a city within the city, knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed for Jesus; and in tithing their time, treasure, and talents for the glory of Jesus, as a member of the body of believers at Mars Hill.
• Pray against Satan, his tricks, and divisive attempts to hamper the mission of Mars Hill.
• Thank Jesus for His faithfulness, blessing, and healing (spiritual and physical) in the lives of many people at MH Shoreline.