There are several points of view when it comes to the topic of habits. A lady in one group discussing how to form good habits finally said that if it weren’t for her bad habits she wouldn’t have any habits at all. Another habit, concerning housework was spoofed in a joke making the rounds: “I dusted last week, and the dust is back. I’m not falling for that one again!”

What I don’t understand is why it takes a month or more to form a new positive habit, and only a few seconds to form a bad habit that it will takes month or more to get rid of.

Remember that on Tuesday, August 28^th , at 9:30 Shelly Brown will be leading a Women’s Bible Study at the parsonage. This is not restricted to Baptists but is for any women in the community who can attend. If you can be there, you will enjoy the Bible study and the fellowship of friends and neighbors as well.

We had a good crowd at church this Sunday, and we also enjoyed a potluck dinner after the morning services.

J ames Hammonds and Elaine Hamilton, accompanied by Ted Deaton on guitar, sang “Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone.” Perhaps the reason “Amazing Grace” is arguably the most popular song in the world is that it is only through God’s amazing grace that we are released from the bondage of sin and hell.

Rev. Brown’s message “Praise can never replace Prayer” was based on Acts 3:1 and Acts 4:23,24. While we are not to neglect praising God, praise cannot replace prayer. In fact, we can attain new levels in prayer when we are faithful in spending time with God in prayer.

There is power in prayer. Miracles can happen because of prayer. When we understand how powerful it is we will go to God in prayer first, not after everything else has failed. And don’t stop praying after God has answered one prayer. Make it a habit to meet constantly with God in prayer.

Prayer changes us. Our hearts are purifi ed from sorrow, cares, and many other things that weigh us down when we pray. When we get real with God and turn our problems and what-ifs over to Him, we can rise from prayer with a new way of seeing and understanding.

It is through prayer that we can receive divine direction from God every day. In fact, don’t make decisions at all without praying first. When we humble ourselves before him and admit that we aren’t the be all and end all in the world and that it is esus, not us, who has all the answers, He can then show us the way forward.

There is an excitement in following God’s will, whatever the result. If God is leading us, when we encounter trouble, God will get us out. As we understand more about who God is, we will understand that wherever He sends us there is victory on the other side.

Prayers are not a monolog through which we give God a list of what we want him to do and by what date it should be done. Prayers are a time when we can form a closer relationship with God—listening for what He wants to bring to our heart and mind. Sitting quietly in His presence, we are letting Him transform us.

God’s will has been done in heaven. It is as we allow God to change us that His will is done on earth. We are called to a life of prayer, and it is when we begin to understand who God is that we begin to understand what a privilege that is.