As I was standing in the midst of my alto family this morning during our church service, I was struck by an unexpected realization. Recently, our church services have been focused on the “burning questions” regarding Christianity. While listening to the alto section singing in unison, sounding as one voice, I was simultaneously aware of how our one voice worked in harmony with the other sections in the choir. Even though each section is made up of multiple individual voices, those individuals work together to unite as one in order to do their part for the whole choir.

This is what living life as a Christian is all about. We are all made uniquely, to fulfill our own specific purpose in the world. However, we must also use our individual unions with God and the Holy Spirit to work together as one body of Christ. When we make a constant, conscious effort to live our lives according to the will of God, we will inevitably be living in the harmony God has designed.

I believe it’s easy to forget that people are always watching. When we make it known to the world around us that we are believers in Christ, our lives become an example of Christianity. We immediately become representatives of the church. Our wise pastor gave us two things to recognize during his sermon today…one: your Christian walk is someone else’s evidence; and two: your Christian walk is someone else’s permission. Now isn’t that quite the kick in the pants?

When my husband and I decided to get married, we knew that we wanted to be together, and we knew we wanted to stay under one roof. We also felt that to do so without being married wasn’t what God intended, and as Christians, we decided that the only way we could be together under one roof was if we were married. We were aware of the fact that our Christian walk was on display, and we wanted to be someone’s evidence, not their permission.

There are two, much more personal aspects of the Christian walk of faith: prayer and bible study. Prayer, especially praying aloud, doesn’t come easy to most people. There is, I believe, a misconception that prayers must meet a certain criteria in order to be “right” or good in the sight of God. Praying aloud can feel like a performance, and it causes many people to freeze up, unable to get any words out. However, prayer is not that complicated, nor is it that rigid. Jesus gives us all the guidance we need in the following scripture…

“And when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them [praying as they do]; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment]. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]” Matthew 6:7-13 AMP

This scripture doesn’t mean we simply repeat this prayer verbatim and call it good. Jesus is giving us the things we need to cover… Worship and thanks to God for whatever blessings we’ve been given. Requests for guidance on His will for our lives in whatever situations we face. Fulfillment of our basic needs (our daily bread) and special prayer requests. Forgiveness for our own mistakes, as well as help forgiving others in whatever way we feel we’ve been wronged. Guidance away from the never ending temptations of the enemy. We’ve got the outline, and all we are supposed to do is personalize it.

Still, there are times when we feel beyond the words required for prayer. But, as the scripture says, your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This is why it’s so important to continue to study the scriptures. It is God’s word written specifically for us. In those pages are all of the guidance and comfort we need to get through whatever comes our way. At the very least, we are always better for time spent in fellowship with the Lord. As John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” By choosing to spend time reading God’s word, we are literally choosing to spend time with God.

“You are our letter [of recommendation], written in our hearts, recognized and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 AMP