Planning to Pray
Even when we're busy

Mathew Hurst • Associate Pastor
October 21, 2026

4 Minute Read

Busy.

I’ve noticed that when people ask me how I am, that is the word I have been using lately. I’ve also noticed it is the adjective most parents and students have been using as well.

In a day and age where we have more modern conveniences than ever before, we are also busier now than ever too, huh?

There are the soccer games, choir concerts, band competitions, volleyball games, and every other extracurricular event you could name for your kids. Then there are the work deadlines, extra shifts, late-night calls, texts, and meetings that are just the normal part of working life. Then there is family time, house chores, grocery runs, etc. And to top it all off, time with your church, fellowship meetings, youth meetings, praise team practices, discipleship, Bible studies, and more.

After a while, we start to look like our friend Larry here.

With our massive to-do lists and full planners, the first thing we cut from our routine is usually the last thing we should remove — our own personal time with the Father. We tend to face the bull head-on while removing the very thing in our lives that enables us to face the bull of busyness with strength and peace.

Friends, I want to encourage you: busyness is not necessarily a bad thing. Godly people tend to be busy people, except that it doesn’t faze them, for the Lord of the Sabbath sustains them. Jesus was quite busy when He walked this earth, but even He took time early each morning to spend time with the Father (Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, and much more).

The great reformer Martin Luther famously said these words: “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

We are all busy. I don’t think that’ll ever change on this side of heaven. There will always be things to do, places to go, and things to accomplish. But may our busyness propel us toward further prayer to the Father, and not tempt us to draw away from Him. In our busy planners, let us make time to pray.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
Coming Up
  • Midweek Night of Worship • October 28th, 6:00 PM
  • Christmas Party • December 16th, 6:00 — 8:25 PM
  • DiscipleNow Weekend • January 22nd–24th, sign-ups are live and close December 16th! Tap the button below to learn more.
Learn more and sign up
Resources

As you all know, I am currently in school right now trying to become better equipped as a pastor and follower of Christ Jesus. Seminary is certainly not for everyone, but becoming better equipped with the gospel is for all believers.

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offers free classes online through their For the Church Institute. They can be done individually or even with a small group with classes such as “Interpreting the Bible” or New Testament overviews.

If you ever wanted to dig deeper in your faith and be better equipped to disciple others, this might be an excellent resource for you.

For the Church Institute

One small update as I close this letter. Jen and I will be on vacation the next two weeks, so our youth volunteers will handle Midweek. Next week, the students will have a night of worship together, and the following week, Pastor Dennis will come to teach that students are not just the future of the church, but the church right now.

Even though I’ll be away next week, you are all in my prayers. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can pray for you or help you in your walk with Jesus. Until then, go in God’s grace and mercy.

In Christ,

Mathew Hurst

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October 21, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Planning to Pray
Busy. I’ve noticed that when people ask me how I am, that is the word I have been using lately. I’ve also noticed it is the adjective most parents and students have been using as well. In a day and age where we have more modern conveniences than ever before, we are also busier now than ever too, huh? There are the soccer games, choir concerts, band competitions, volleyball games, and every other extracurricular event you could name for your kids. Then there are the work deadlines, extra shifts, late-night calls, texts, and meetings that are just the normal part of working life. Then there is family time, house chores, grocery runs, etc. And to top it all off, time with your church, fellowship meetings, youth meetings, praise team practices, discipleship, Bible studies, and more. After a while, we start to look like our friend Larry here. With our massive to-do lists and full planners, the first thing we cut from our routine is usually the last thing we should remove — our own personal time with the Father. We tend to face the bull head-on while removing the very thing in our lives that enables us to face the bull of busyness with strength and peace. Friends, I want to encourage you: busyness is not necessarily a bad thing. Godly people tend to be busy people, except that it doesn’t faze them, for the Lord of the Sabbath sustains them. Jesus was quite busy when He walked this earth, but even He took time early each morning to spend time with the Father (Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, and much more). The great reformer Martin Luther famously said these words: “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” We are all busy. I don’t think that’ll ever change on this side of heaven. There will always be things to do, places to go, and things to accomplish. But may our busyness propel us toward further prayer to the Father, and not tempt us to draw away from Him. In our busy planners, let us make time to pray. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer! Coming Up Midweek Night of Worship • October 28th, 6:00 PM Christmas Party • December 16th, 6:00 — 8:25 PM DiscipleNow Weekend • January 22nd–24th, sign-ups are live and close December 16th! Tap the button below to learn more.Learn more and sign up Resources As you all know, I am currently in school right now trying to become better equipped as a pastor and follower of Christ Jesus. Seminary is certainly not for everyone, but becoming better equipped with the gospel is for all believers. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offers free classes online through their For the Church Institute. They can be done individually or even with a small group with classes such as “Interpreting the Bible” or New Testament overviews. If you ever wanted to dig deeper in your faith and be better equipped to disciple others, this might be an excellent resource for you.For the Church Institute One small update as I close this letter. Jen and I will be on vacation the next two weeks, so our youth volunteers will handle Midweek. Next week, the students will have a night of worship together, and the following week, Pastor Dennis will come to teach that students are not just the future of the church, but the church right now. Even though I’ll be away next week, you are all in my prayers. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can pray for you or help you in your walk with Jesus. Until then, go in God’s grace and mercy. In Christ, Mathew HurstContact Us

Mathew Hurst

Associate Pastor

September 30, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Tracing the Lines
Everyone’s time with Jesus is different. Some people like to get up early in the morning and sit in a cozy chair with a cup of coffee in hand and slowly study the Word in prayerful meditation. Others will read a verse of the day, pray, and move on. Some listen to their Bible audibly and talk with Jesus throughout the day. Lately, this is what my time in Jesus’ Word has felt like: I have been taking a class through the Old Testament, and I have been astounded over and over at how many Christ connections there are throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. My Bible provides cross-references for further study, and I have been tracing them like our friend pictured above, and everywhere I go, I see Christ. I see in the Israelites' brokenness a mirror of my own, and I see throughout their story how it was always God’s plan to provide a Redeemer. We can run to God’s Word for various reasons, but I just want to remind you all today who the Bible is about: Christ. The Father gave us His Word through His Spirit so that we might know Him through Jesus (John 14:6–7). So, however you study, however you digest God’s Word, remember, look for Christ. And to capstone that, here is how one pastor said it better than I ever could: Coming Up Fall Fellowship Night • Wednesday October 17th, 6:00 – 8:25 PM Christmas Party • December 16th, 6:00 — 8:25 PM DiscipleNow Weekend • January 22nd–24th, sign-ups are live and close December 16th! Tap the button below to learn more.Learn more and sign up Resources If you’re thinking of Christmas gifts, I may have found one for you. LifeWay just released a new Teen Study Bible. This CSB study Bible includes overviews of each book in easy, day-to-day language, articles with questions teens today are asking, study tips, and more. If you want to check it out, here are a couple of places you can find it. I also ordered a few to have at the church if you want to see it in person.LifewayAmazon Know I am available to each of you. If you have questions about our church, the student ministry, or just need prayer, I am here. Until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you. In Christ, Mathew HurstContact Us

Mathew Hurst

Associate Pastor

September 16, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
The weekend that changed everything
It was eighteen years ago. “Some of you in here think that God is not big enough–that your failures are too big, that your burdens are too big, that your sin is too great for you to be accepted by the Father.” The room had a little over one hundred students standing shoulder to shoulder, but it was as if he was speaking directly to me. “Some of you think you’re too broken, too bitter, too far gone for Christ to change your life.” I was too far gone. My life wasn’t hard, per se. But I was bitter. I was broken. I was angry about all the brokenness in my life I could do nothing about, the hate and distrust that plagued my thoughts, and the pure emptiness that I felt with each passing day. “But here is the truth of the Gospel: Our God is bigger than the nails that crucified Him, and He is far, far greater than the sin that covers your heart. He loves you and can save you. You need only call out to Him.” I was in 7th grade and had probably heard the gospel hundreds of times up to that point, but that was the instant when Christ opened my eyes. I was a sinner, and I needed a Savior. The guest pastor speaking that weekend hadn’t even gotten up to preach yet. I ran to my leader, desperately saying, “I need to be saved. I need Jesus.” He spoke with me and simply told me to cry out to Jesus (Romans 10:13). So I did. By grace through faith in Jesus Christ, I was made into a new creation that night at a DiscipleNow weekend. I surrendered my life to Him, and I have never been the same since. Every year, our church hosts a DiscipleNow weekend, where we invite 7th–12th grade students to come together for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and diving deep into God’s Word. As you can imagine, this is one of my favorite events we do for students. I want to invite your kids to be a part of ours. Our DiscipleNow Weekend will be on January 22nd–24th. That could be the weekend that changes your child’s life forever, as it was for me. Sign-ups are now open, with more info to come.Learn more and sign up Coming Up The next several weeks should be pretty normal, with Midweek every Wednesday and Growth Groups on Sunday mornings. Go ahead and mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 14th, as we will have a special Fall Fellowship night that evening (Hint: there may be s’mores involved...). Resources As I do more research and reading, I will be sure to plug good resources for students, parents, and leaders here for your benefit. In the meantime, the best thing I can give you is ways to get in touch with me. I have emailed all the parents with my phone number, but if you don’t have my number, you can contact me either at my email (mathew@fbcwatauga.org) or by tapping the button below.Contact Us To God be the glory! In Christ, Mathew Hurst P.S.—This is the song that we sang together as I surrendered my life to Jesus:

Mathew Hurst

Associate Pastor