Prayer Monuments

Focus has been primarily on structured/scheduled prayer, tonight shift to spontaneous prayers, flare prayers, way of life prayers.

What is important to a nation? Look at her monuments. In our country we raise monuments to political leaders like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, and presidential libraries. We build shrines to honor wars and those who die in war like the World War II memorial or the Vietnam Wall. In our own town we honor veterans and even sports teams for their victories. Monuments show us our values and priorities. Every monument, great or small, requires an investment of time and money to build. We only invest in those things that are important to us.

Why?

1) We are Prone to Forget “I’ll pray for you”

Deuteronomy 6:12 ESV

then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

2) We reap what we sew

Galatians 6:7–8 ESV

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

an investment in dedication to prayer

3) It’s Fun!

Biblical Example - Joshua 4 (1-8, 19-24)

a reminder v7

to explain to others (children, “what does this mean”) v6-7, 21-22

a sign to the world v.24

Potential monuments-

existing items/structures

Mexico Bridge

Song (sugar)

Something new (more to the point of the passage)

clipboard at PDI (sign to world)

Sign on steering wheel

Maybe a reminder of what God has done - Sign for 10th anniversary, we all have many like this

Reminder of life before Christ

Ephesians 2:11–12 ESV

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

A picture, an old ball cap, an object in the top drawer of your tool box