thoughts on prayer - pastor steve y

“All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. This is the motive of every action of every man.” -Blaise Pascal

​I grew up in a Christian family, attending church regularly and involved in the youth group. After finishing high school, one of the college students in the church invited me to work at a camp for the summer.  It was at that camp that I realized that happiness was possible. As I was reading the book of Mark for my morning devotions (this was my first experience of reading the Bible on my own regularly), I came across Mark 8:35.

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.  -Jesus (Mark 8:35)

It took me awhile to figure out what Jesus was saying. But finally I got it. Jesus was telling me that if I put my trust in him, surrendering my life to his Lordship, then, and only then, could I experience true happiness. 

Now I’ve been a Christian for 32 years, and I am more convinced than ever that real, abundant life is only found in surrendering my life to Jesus and his agenda.  The challenge, of course, is to live this out day after day.  

Lord, I want my life to be one long prayer of putting your agenda first.
-Pastor Steve York