Pastor Donnie has a confession?!

Hey Cornerstone Family! 

I hope you’ve been enjoying the Advent season and that it has been formative for you. For my thought today, I decided to come to you with a confession, because who doesn’t love doing that?

I deeply desire to be right. And I don’t mean somewhat. To the core of my being, I want to know that what I am saying is correct and communicate it in the right way. Now, this isn’t entirely bad. It can be good in some circumstances. For instance, I try to do my very best to ensure that I have knowledge about what I teach our cKidz and our cStudents. To the core of my being, I want to be communicating the whole Gospel. 

Just as there is a positive side to this, there also is a negative. If you know my story, I grew up playing and loving sports. I still do! But this love for striving to win and desire to make sure I am right on issues that I speak on isn’t always the most fabulous mix.

Recently, I was thinking — as I tend to do frequently — on prayer and how we pray as Christians. Again, I wanted to make sure that I was connecting with God correctly and pleasing Him through prayer. After all, at its best it is good to check in on these things...but at its worst, it can lead to overthinking. 

As I continued to think about prayer and how a Christian is to pray correctly, I asked my good friend and mentor about his thoughts on what I was thinking and experiencing. His wise words were a great help to me, and I hope they will help you, especially if you struggle with overthinking and striving.

He said, “The Holy Spirit pours out God’s love in you. He is the acting principle, not your prayer. Your prayer is the place where you become aware of and experience the Holy Spirit’s love.”

I think that this simple thought can transform our lives. It is important to realize that prayer is not about us striving to say the right things. Instead, it is about being. Being fully present to God and the work of the Spirit in you.

If you’re feeling stressed about this current season and 2020 as a whole, take some time to slow down and be fully present to God. Let Him pour out His love in you.

In Christ, you are a son or a daughter of the living God. In Christ, you have already been welcomed into the family of God. There is no striving necessary. As you trust in Him and are present to Him, you will get where He wants you to go.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Donnie Sanchez
Cornerstone Church
NextGen Pastor