Eight Reasons Why We Should Pray

Back in February, I talked about praying for Christ-centered education. In that post, I stated that prayer is the primary way for Christians to COMMUNICATE thanks, CONVEY hopes, CONFESS sins, and CELEBRATE God. German theologian Martin Luther famously said that he had so much to do that he would spend the first three hours of the day in prayer. Despite being mentioned in the Bible hundreds of times, I think most of us aren't praying like Martin Luther. If you're struggling to pray even three minutes a day, perhaps the reasons I mentioned below can push you to spend more time with God in prayer.

1. Christians should devote themselves to it. Colossians 4:2 says, Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Prayer isn't something we should only do before a meal or when we want something. We are to have a lifestyle of prayer where we constantly pray. 

2. To know God and grow closer to Him. Matthew 6:6 says, But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Prayer is a powerful privilege where we can receive God's help and better understand who He is.

3. To please God. Proverbs 15:8 says, The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. When we pray, we show interest in God and our dependence on Him. This brings God great joy.

4. To confess sins and have them forgiven. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. We must be honest with God and confess our crimes against Him. This is done through prayer, and when done, our slate is wiped clean. Amazing grace.

5. So we don't fall into temptation. Matthew 26:41 says, Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Life is full of sinful temptations, and Satan wants us to fall into temptation. Prayer helps us not fall into Satan's schemes. 

6. To gain wisdom. James 1:5 says, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Jesus is the source of wisdom (Colossians 2:3), and we can go to Him and ask for the ability to discern and judge what is true and right.

7. It accomplishes much. James 5:16 says, Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Prayer is far more powerful than anything we can accomplish in our own strength. We need to spend more time being still and praying to our all-powerful God.   

8. Jesus did it. Mark 1:35 says, And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. If this is a practice that Jesus did alone and with others, I'm not sure how we can argue against it!

What are some other reasons why we should pray? I would love to hear from you and how you practice this essential spiritual discipline. Additionally, I hope you will join us at one of our four campuses before school on September 27th for See You At The Pole. More details will be coming soon about this global day of prayer!

Wick's 2017 Highlights

2017 was our first full year back in the States, and God once again blessed us abundantly. Read below. Here are past Wickersham highlights: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2016.

January - We attend a God-glorifying wedding at Indiana Wesleyan University and have a Chinese mini-reunion.

February - We decide to purchase a brick ranch house in Evansville and like it for numerous reasons.

March - I visit Las Vegas with my dad and brother and watch the Kobalt 400, consume fantastic food, and have crucial conversations. Megan and I provide a little glimpse at FSBC about what the Father has done and is doing in the Middle Kingdom.

April - I attend the Gospel Coalition conference in Indianapolis and hear the gospel of grace proclaimed by men who have taught me much over the years.

May - We now have a high schooler, a middle schooler, and a kindergarten student in the Wickersham household. How did this happen?

June - My dad treats us to a two-night stay at the Peabody Memphis: Bass Pro Shops, BBQ, Graceland, Shelby Farms, and more!

July - We go to the Ark Encounter and hang out with friends we did life with in China. A few days later, we visit family in Richmond, Indiana, and make a presentation at their church. Soon after that, we visit St. Louis and enjoy time at the zoo, Science Center, and World Chess Hall of Fame.

August - We host a Chinese college student for three weeks and are invited by our friends to speak about adoption at a church in Johnson City, Tennessee.

September - I became the Cullen Campus principal at Evansville Christian School - so thankful to have a great job in a great community.

October - It's the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. Soli Deo Gloria.

November - We part ways with the Wickmobile, and I spend some time in Bloomington, Indiana, on an ACSI accreditation visit. I also enjoyed catching up with an old buddy from Avon.

December - We celebrate Christmas with our families in Avon and Frankfort, Indiana, and spend time with other family members at various times during the month. God is good.

Wick's 2014 Highlights

It's that time of the year when I reflect on how our Father has blessed me. Here are past Wickersham highlights: 2010, 2011, 2012, & 2013

January - On the 21st, we celebrated having Josiah for one year. He has rocked our world.

February - To the surprise of many, I announced that I would not be serving as the middle school principal after June. I am thankful to be able to return to the classroom and be one of Rose's teachers.

March - I started using an iPad at work in preparation for the August rollout for TIS students in grades 3-6. The larger screen enabled me to increase my Hill Climb scores exponentially.

April - A few other TIS educators and I attended a learning innovation symposium at Shekou International School in Shenzhen, China. I gained a better understanding of how iPads can be more than video game devices.

May - I coached Rose and a group of 5th-grade girls en route to winning the ISCOT elementary soccer championship. We are the champions, my friends. And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end. We are the champions.

June - Dr. Klootwyk performed ACL reconstruction and repaired the meniscus in my right knee, 16 years after he performed ACL reconstruction on my left knee. Both injuries are the result of playing the greatest sport in the world, soccer.

July - Megan and I celebrated ten years of marriage. Megan gifted me with some home decor that contained a Martin Luther quote: "Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave." I started crying like a baby.

August - I returned to the classroom after four years of being a middle school principal. To say I enjoy teaching sixth graders the Word and His world is quite the understatement.

September - For the first time in five years, I find myself coaching in some middle school soccer games. To my delight, the majority of the sixth-grade girls, including Rose, came out for the team.

October - Grace played in her first official soccer games, and I got to serve as her coach. Grace went into beast mode, scoring eight goals while helping her third-grade squad to a 3-2 tournament record. I look forward to more fun on the field in the spring.

November - My Lady Eagles squad placed second in the seven-team ISC middle school soccer tournament. The girls busted their butts all season, and we had a great deal of fun. After the soccer season, I added 6th and 7th-grade girls volleyball to my coaching resume.

December - My first semester back in the classroom after a four-year absence comes to a completion. I had a ton of fun and look forward to 2015!

Happy Reformation Day!

Luther's 95 Theses - Read what German theologian Martin Luther posted on the church doors at Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. These 95 points were a protest against many practices in the Catholic Church and sparked the Protestant Reformation.

Free Download: The Barber Who Wanted to Pray - We listened to this 15-minute children's book today. It is by R.C. Sproul and is based on Martin Luther's booklet, A Simple Way to Pray.

Reviewing R.C. Sproul's The Holiness of God

R.C. Sproul, the founder of Ligonier Ministries, says that The Holiness of God is what he recommends first when people ask him what Ligonier book they should use to help them grow. Jerry Bridges, author of The Pursuit of Holiness, says, "Every Christian who is serious about his or her growth needs to read The Holiness of God." I say that I should have read (or listened to the nine-hour audiobook) The Holiness of God years ago. This 240-page work was first published by Tyndale House in 1985 and is considered a modern classic on the subject of God's holy character. You will find KJV, NKJV, NASB, and NIV Bible verses throughout the 11 chapters. Some of the chapter titles include The Holy Grail, The Insanity of Luther, God in the Hands of Angry Sinners, War and Peace with a Holy God, and Holy Justice. In these 11 chapters, Sproul gives us the proper perspective on God's awesome holiness. He reminds us that God is to be feared and revered and not treated simply as our buddy. Each chapter begins with a quote, and a few questions are provided at the end of each chapter. If you read Sproul's foundational piece, hopefully, you will develop a stronger hunger to be holy like God. 

Some Of My 2011 Commitments

As the year comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the challenges and joys of 2010. I have also been thinking about what I believe God wants me to work towards in the new year. A number of thoughts come to mind, but there are three specific goals I am setting out to accomplish in 2011. They are...

1. Recommit Myself To A Fasting Plan - For several years, I refrained from eating for at least 24 hours once a month. Unfortunately, much of the time I spent fasting was not spent in the best of ways. I felt led to fast so I could grow in my relationship with the Lord, but during many of my fasts, I did not truly focus on the Lord. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that I have been neglecting, which is going to be brought back in my life, but this time I plan to have the proper perspective in mind. Read Matthew 6:16-18.

2. Focus On The Book of Romans - Martin Luther called the Book of Romans the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel. I plan on taking a class on this profound book in the near future, but before I do so, I am going to read a couple of books that will bring me a greater understanding of what Paul wrote. I will also work on memorizing more portions of this book. Although I have memorized many verses over the years (and forgotten many verses over the years), I need to be more diligent in memorizing larger portions of Scripture. No excuses.

3. Taking My Girls On At Least One Daddy Date A Month - Occasionally, I take one or both of my girls out on daddy dates. We usually go out to eat at a fun restaurant. We might go to a restaurant that has a playground or one that prepares the food in front of you. We have a good time enjoying the meals and talking about life. However, our dates have been sporadic and could be better if they were planned out. So that is what I am going to do. My girls are already looking forward to January's date: White Castle. Oh yeah - it's what you crave.

So what commitments do you plan on making in the New Year? Below are some links that can help you think about New Year's Resolutions and how to go about them.

Celebrating Rose's 4th Gotcha Day at Pizza Hill

                                                     
Make Plans Not Resolutions: Reflections On Proverbs 16 by Jeremy Carr

Ready For The New Year?  by T.M. Moore

Resolutions  by Tim Challies

Why Most People Don't Keep Their New Year's Resolutions  by Matt Perman