When you're not getting anything out of it

Recently, I attended a church on a Sunday moring while I was out of town.  It was a welcoming church, and fit the style I am comfortable with.  There were greeters at the door, and happy strangers to sit next to.  When the worship service began, I could tell the worship leader was slightly nervous, yet still passionate about leading.  We sang a few songs (some I knew, and some I learned as we went), and then sat down for the sermon.  As the speaker gave his message, I had difficulty following.  I wasn't quite understanding what he was trying to say, and I wasn't exactly sure why.  I thought to myself that I might just be tired, I possibly wasn't smart enough to follow some of the more theological ideas he was saying, or he could just be a bad preacher.  Nonetheless, instead of mentally checking out, I decided to do something about it.  I decided to pray.

I prayed for the Lord to use this preacher, to speak through this preacher, and to open up the minds and hearts of the people in the congregation including myself.  I prayed that the Holy Spirit would come and fall afresh on us.  That God would be present with us there, and that God would speak through this pastor.  I prayed for the church and for it's leaders to have discernment in the tasks that needed to be done at this church in the near future.  I prayed for the church. I continued praying as the pastor continued preaching.  

Once I finished my prayer, I listened to the words being said. They began to make sense. I was uplifted and encouraged by what the pastor was waying. I was connected with those words in a new way.  All thanks to God answering my prayer after I prayed.

Often times we think we can't do anything about differnent situations that happen to us.  But we can do something.  We can do something that will actually work, EVERY TIME!  We can pray.  Prayer is powerful because of who is on the other side of that prayer.  

When you "aren't getting anything out of a sermon" next time you're at church, DO SOMETHING about it! Don't check out. Pray! Do your part, so God can do His.  

Hope this helps! I love you all!