The Bridge RSM

Would you describe yourself as "knowing God"? Maybe you've known Him for a long time. Maybe you're just getting acquainted. Maybe you're simply interested in knowing Him. Wherever you're at, we are invited deeper into a relationship with the One who's positioned us as "Our Father". He desires intimacy and familiarity. And yet there is a beautiful tension in Scripture. He's also meant to be revered above any other. He is, after all, God Almighty. As we begin a series on The Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6, we wrestle out the tension in the first two lines given by Jesus: "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name." There's a gift in the exploration of who God is and how He relates to us as His creatures. Will you step in and embrace learning to know Him more?

Have you ever felt intimidated by prayer? Ever wondered where to begin? You're not alone! You're not alone in your experience or in your practice. We've all felt that way. We've all had to begin to learn to come to God in prayer. And He even offers His own help! We have a teacher in Jesus and a helper in the Holy Spirit to help us train in coming to the Father in prayer.

Have you ever felt unworthy to come to God in prayer? Maybe the picture of Father God doesn't evoke a positive image. Maybe you just recognize the sin in your life. Maybe you're too busy striving for righteousness that you don't feel like you've done enough yet. Wherever you find yourself, we have a God that reaches across the divide and pulls us in. He always goes first to declare that we are His, He loves and accepts us, that we have access to Him, and that He excitedly awaits our coming to Him in prayer. Will you come to Him today? He's longing for you.

Have you ever felt silly talking to someone you can't see? prayer can sometimes feel awkward, especially because God doesn't often speak audibly in the way we're used to. As we learn to recognize His voice, this gets easier, but it takes time. We learn to distinguish His voice uniquely through time spent with Him in prayer, worship, and Scripture and in community. In the in-between space of this learning though can be awkwardness. Be encouraged by the community of faith! As we come before Him in earnestness He will respond. He desires intimate relationship with His creation and with you personally.

In 2026, we want to be a church that gets more engaged with prayer. But like anything, we won't just start praying at length because we resolved to do so. We need training. And that begins with an honest assessment of what our challenges are to a prayer-filled life. Pastor Ryan begins our year in earnest with a series reflecting on What Makes Prayer So Difficult. The starting place? Apathy. It's easy to write prayer off when we're not engaged with it, but beautifully, God has offered His people the dignity of participation. We get to partner with the God of the universe, growing in relationship and bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to bear on the earth through our prayers. It all begins with a single step towards God in prayer. Will you take a step today? What will it be?