HOW’S\u00a0 YOUR<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n PRAYER<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n CONDITIONING?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n <\/p>\n It’s that time of the year again.\u00a0 All winter, that little switch on your thermostat has been in the “Heat” position.\u00a0 It’s been cold outside, and when it gets too cold that comforting rush of warm air blows out of the vent.\u00a0 And recently, we’ve been in that in between time of the year.\u00a0 The HVAC system is silent.\u00a0 You can even move that switch to the center position.\u00a0 The one that says “Off.” But the seasons are changing.\u00a0 It’s that time of the year again.\u00a0 The humidity is rising, the sun is hot, and the air is stifling.\u00a0 You need your system to drive the temperature down.\u00a0 So gingerly, for the first time of the year, you move that switch from “Heat” to “Cool.” You lower the thermostat setting… and wait…<\/p>\n What’s going to happen?\u00a0 Will it work?\u00a0 Will the compressor run?\u00a0 Will it blow a fuse like it did last year?\u00a0 Did the refrigerant leek out over the winter?\u00a0 Did the motor starter capacitor blow?<\/p>\n Is my system ready for this new demand, or will I need to call Walt (sorry, shameless plug for our local HVAC guru- who is also a PUMC’er<\/span><\/em><\/span>)…<\/p>\n = = =<\/span><\/p>\n It’s that time of the day again.\u00a0 Rush hour.\u00a0 You’ve got places to go… and so does everyone else.\u00a0 Traffic is heavy, but there’s no need for what that guy just did!\u00a0 There was room behind you but he just HAD to pull out in front of you, forcing you to hit your brakes.\u00a0<\/p>\n What’s your reaction?\u00a0 Do you get hot with anger?\u00a0 Do your curse?\u00a0 Do you pump up your pride and say “I’d never do a thing like that!”???<\/p>\n Jesus tells us to “Love our Enemies<\/span><\/a>.”\u00a0 Paul tells us to “Pray without ceasing<\/span><\/a>.”<\/p>\n It’s not love if we react in anger to someone’s mis-deeds.\u00a0 It’s not praying if we’re depicting someone with “colorful metaphors.” \u00a0 It’s our conditioning that causes us to fire verbal assaults at that unknown driver.\u00a0 It’s the conditioning that has us in a hurry; that leads us to be thinking about the things we need to do instead of about the people we’re with.\u00a0<\/p>\n = = =<\/span><\/p>\n Did you thank God for your wife as you said goodbye at the door?\u00a0 Did you notice the blue sky and red roses as you backed out of your driveway?\u00a0 Are you thankful for your job?\u00a0 When you have these moments, you’re praying.\u00a0 You’re exercising your “Prayer Conditioner.”<\/p>\n It’s prayer that conditions us for the heated moments of life.\u00a0 The habit of prayer keeps us in contact with God and keeps our minds in a place where they won’t leap out in anger… even when another driver cuts us off.<\/p>\n What do you think about in those moments when nobody’s pulling out in front of you?\u00a0 What do you notice in your surroundings when everything is calm?\u00a0 Turned inward, your mind will be conditioned to leap out in anger when the calm suddenly stops.\u00a0 Turned outward, your spirit will be conditioned to thank God in any circumstance.<\/p>\n At any moment, that thermostat switch is going to be changed.\u00a0 How’s your Prayer Conditioning?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Signboard-2018-06-05-Prayer-Conditioning-_IMG_2401-300x225.jpg\")
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