In our final Growing Deeper session, Pastor Tim shares with us about Sabbath and how the value of this spiritual practice has diminished in a world where a constant "go, go, go" is expected.

The next semester of our small groups begin in just a few weeks, and Pastor Tim takes this Sunday to help us understand the importance of being connected to others in relationship that more than just the quick conversations we have on Sunday mornings.

As with fasting, or meditation, lament isn't discussed often in the modern church. When troubled times come, our western culture allows for grieving to take place, but then there's a "turning point" we are expected to go through without truly placing our hearts (and hurts) before the Lord.

This Sunday, Pastor Tim looks at lament in the Bible and shows us how the practice of taking time to grieve also helps us to grow deeper in our walk with the Lord.

Meditation is scriptural. Old Testament, New Testament, it's all throughout. In the Psalms, King David even comments on meditation often.

But, the practice of slowing ourselves down, "chewing" on God's Word and allowing it to refine our thinking and doing, is not something Christ-followers do today. The world demands busy from us. So, we have to be intentional about slowing down and spending time meditating on what He is saying to us.

Fasting is one of those spiritual practices that is discussed in the Bible often, but not a common practice in our culture.

In this session, Pastor Tim takes some time to help us understand fasting and to remind us that this spiritual practice is something that can help us elevate the eternal above the temporary.

This Sunday, we welcomed Matt & Abby Edwards to share on their ministry in Austria with Austrian church and the Iranian church, and their future plans serving in Ukraine.

To give towards their ministry click here: https://give.foursquare.org/fundraiser/4320182

In this final session, Pastor Tim does one more review of the "Prayer Wheel" and then leads a practical exercise going through section step of the prayer wheel at three minutes each.

At the conclusion, he discusses with those in attendance about their experience praying through the twelve sections.

Practicing confession with each other is not a common practice. We are more apt, rightly so, to confess to the Lord as His Word tells us.

But, what if the key to healing, freedom, and reconciliation was taking the time to confess to each other? Lives would be changed, relationships would grow, and our spiritual walk would be deeper with the Lord.

Pastor Tim concludes his discussion on the sections of the "Prayer Wheel" and then works on a practical application spending 18 minutes in prayer, 90 seconds on each section.

Silence and solitude are two practices that are not easy - being still and alone can be challenging! Yet, if we are willing to submit, there is a greater depth we can find in our walk with Christ.