Flight Check

9"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:9-11

I fly regularly. Each time I get on a plane, I look to my left and the pilot and co-pilot are usually busy going through the Pre-flight checklist. They meticulously check all of the electronic and manual systems as well as perform visual checks of the inside and outside of the plane. If anything is out of order, they will not pull away from the gate until they are satisfied it has been rectified. Finding out there is a problem at 30,000 feet in the air (almost 6 miles high) could potentially be disastrous. Christians would do well to start each day with a routine to align our actions to God’s purpose.

Jesus detected a problem in some of the public prayers he was hearing in the synagogue. The motives were wrong. He called them hypocrites and what they were doing babbling. Prayer is one of the most critical elements in the life of a Christian. Through prayer we seek and get direction, strength, encouragement, hope, help and healing. Just as pilots make sure they have carefully checked the plane and coordinated with those responsible so they can be confident the plane will perform on the runway and in the air; Christians must start their days acknowledging God and making sure we are in right relationship with Him. During almost every flight planes encounter strong winds, limited visibility issues and the need to adjust their navigation due to air traffic or weather patterns. If we are to stay on course and live abundant lives, we must be in constant contact with God through prayer.

During the day, check in with God through prayer to keep yourself on the right path, headed in the right direction, making the right decisions.

Deacon Larry Woodard