by Heaven's Rain 1/6/05
Did you know that prayerlessness is a sin? I Samuel 12:23-24 states this, "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; Consider what great things He has done for you." (NIV) This teaches that if we as Christians don't pray faithfully, it is considered sin. The Lord commands us to fear Him and to place our trust in Him.
Prayer is one communication tool God uses to connect to us. Reading His Word is another way that God speaks to us in a personal way. It is a very high honor to be able to speak to the Lord, who created us. Just as God expects us to speak to our earthly fathers, He wants us to commune with Him. Prayer promotes unbroken fellowship with God. He calls His children to His throne by way of prayer. God loved us enough to send His only son to die on a cross, so that we would be able to separate from sin and enter the kingdom of heaven through prayer. He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us, and lead us to God when we have strayed.
Prayer gives us the power to do the work He has called each of us to do. While in prayer, one can sometimes sense an answer to what they ask. But we must remember that God does not always answer immediately. Prayer is one way that God uses to communicate to us what He wants for our lives. Colossians 4:2 says, "Devote yourselves to prayer; being watchful and thankful." (NIV) The Lord also reminds us that in everything, through prayer and supplication, we are to make our requests known to Him; which can be found in Philippians 4:6. (NIV) God is constantly guiding us back to Him using His tool of prayer.
James 5:16 reads, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (NIV) When we surrender our lives to Christ, in completeness, we are able to pray fervently and constantly. The Lord knows that we can never be perfect, but He honors the prayers of a sincere, contrite heart.
Recently, I was asked to complete a survey about prayer. I was given the names of two people to pray for on a daily basis, and I had to log how many days I spent in prayer. It was interesting to note how praying for two complete strangers affects your life in a positive way. The power of praying for others gives a feeling of peace. It is truly amazing to watch God work in someone else's life when you pray for them. Back in the beginning of the year, I began conversing with my best friend who was struggling with her husband's death. He came to know the Lord before his passing. Throughout the months, I have been in intercessory prayer for her, and I have rejoiced in the knowledge that she has drawn closer to the Lord. Is there someone in your life that you wonder if God is asking you to minister to? God places people in our path, so that His light will shine through us and our actions so clearly that they will not help but notice Him. Don't be afraid to reach out to that person and offer words of encouragement or praise. Ask God to give you the wisdom and the words to speak. You will be shocked; if you remain in silent prayer while you are in a conversation with that individual, suddenly the words just come flowing from your lips. That is GOD! Allow Him to just take control, for He would never let anything vile come from our lips when He is the One speaking.
When asked the question, "What does prayer mean to you?", a friend of mine recently said that prayer helps her focus on being humble and causes her to seek God with all her needs; deepens the present relationship she has with God. Prayer should be the very breath of the church and we should have the deep desire for private moments with our Creator. Whether it be through deep intercession, solitary prayer, or in a large group, we should long to hear from God, and fellowship with Him. Jesus prayed even though He really did not have to. Should we do any less? Make prayer a priority and watch your life change. I leave you with the challenge from I Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing!"
