PRAYER
It’s easy to talk about prayer, to study about prayer, and even to teach about prayer but it’s something altogether different to spend time in prayer.
For a follower of Jesus Christ, prayer is really not an option. Jesus set the example of getting up early, going to a secluded place, and even spending all night in prayer.
Luke 5:16 (ESV) But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Luke 6:12 (ESV) In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
Luke 9:18 (ESV) Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
Luke 9:28 (ESV) Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
Throughout the Bible we are given promises, guidance, and even orders to pray.
Luke 18:1-7 (ESV) 1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.' " 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
Romans 8:26 (ESV) Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Zechariah 12:10 (ESV) "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
Romans 8:15 (ESV) For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
Prayer is a grace – inspired by God, helped by God, focused upon God, and answered by God in His sovereign way. Yet, God gives us instruction to pray and how to pray.
Three Important Aspects Of Prayer
Colossians 4:2 (ESV) Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
1) Prayer doesn’t just happen unless we devote ourselves to it. As Paul compared his spiritual life to physical training, it wasn’t a hit and miss situation, rather a planned out strategy.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV) 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
2) Prayer includes being watchful. Watchful for attacks that happen while we pray to keep us from praying, watchful of our own attitudes that can ruin our prayer life, and watchful for God’s answer.
Matthew 26:41 (ESV) Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
3) As we see God answer, even in ways that we least expect, let the thanksgiving flow. In fact, as you pray, it’s important to recognize past answers and blessings so you approach God with a thankful heart.
Psalms 100:4 (ESV) Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
If prayer is going to be part of your life, it means you plan on it and devote yourself to make it happen. Knowing it takes many times to overcome the bad habit of not praying, don’t let another day go by without devoting yourself to time in prayer. Watch out though, God may just surprise you.
Jeremiah 33:2-3 (ESV) 2 "Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it— the Lord is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV) For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
Bob is the pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, Florida. See www.ccpconline.org for church information and listen to Bob’s latest sermons.
