We sleep because we forget we are in a war.

In Gospel Group last night we used this quote to try to fire some discussion:

“Church is not a sleepy, comfy lounge in which you pick out your favourite chair and relax, taking a breather from the pressures of everyday life. It is a barracks where soldiers get trained and equipped and help one another sharpen their weapons and put on their equipment ready to go back out into battle."

It lead to an interesting and honest discussion about how we don't approach church like that because we don't view out life as being like that. We forget that we are in a spiritual battle, we get lulled into a false sense of security and simply breeze along confident that we will just muddle through. So when we come to church it is with no sense of urgency, no real sense of needing this to get me through another week. Is it because we are sure we will be at church again next week, is it because we hide away from the war that rages around us and don't feel the pressure, is it because we are most middle class and move in those polite circles.

I find myself, therefore, praying today both for myself, our church and the church in the UK that God would make me desperate to hear the word of God, to meet with and know the encouragement and brotherhood of the people of God, and aware again of my need of him to make it through everyday as he works in me to change me and make me more like Jesus. Prayer is not safe and that is certainly not a safe prayer to pray because it may mean God making me and us uncomfortable in order to make us dependent (see Isaiah 1-5).