One of the questions that J.C. Ryle asked repeatedly in his booklet "A Call to Pray" was," Do you pray?". These three words are challenging to the average Christian today. When I ask that question I am not talking about the quick prayer that we put before meals, when we're in a bind or rushing off somewhere. I am talking about quiet, uninterrupted prayer. A time when we are alone and focused on the King of Kings. If this is not a habit in your life, let me suggest to you that it needs to be. If we truly understood prayer's importance, I dare suggest it would move way up on our priority list. At our last launch team meeting we looked at 5 facts in regards to prayer that have motivated me to move it up on my priority list and I pray we will motivate you to do the same.
1. Believers Pray
- As you search the pages of Scripture from beginning to end, from Genesis to Revelation, you see that the people of God pray. In fact they make it a priority. We see men like Daniel, David and Jesus (the Son of God) taking time in their day to get alone and pray to the Lord. We see the priority of prayer in the church in the book of Acts (Acts 1:24, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:6, Acts 10:9 etc). Paul, Peter, James and John alll mention the importance of praying in their epistles. Paul often requests prayer and tells of how he is praying for those to whom he is writing to.
- It signifies who is godly (1 Pet.1:17, 1 Cor.1:2) and ungodly (Ps.14:4).
2. Prayer is Not Just Empty Words
- The Lord is not interested in prayers that pay Him lip service only. There was plenty of prayer going on while Jesus was here on this earth. There were men who prayed to be seen by others (Matt.6:5). There were those who "heaped up empty phrases" thinking that they would be heard because of their many words. (Matt.6:7) Jesus quoted the words found in the book of Isaiah when showing where the people were really at. He said that the people honored Him with their lips, but that their hearts were far from Him. (Matt.15:8,9) God is not interested in mere words. He looks on the heart of the person who is praying. J.C. Ryle said it like this, "Words said without heart are as utterly useless to our souls as the drum beating of the poor heathen before their idols. Where there is no heart, there may be lip work and tongue work, but there is nothing that God listens to; there is no prayer."
3. Prayer Has No Obstacles
- Romans 8 makes it clear to us that there are no obstacles for our prayers to make it to God the Father, because of what the rest of the Trinity is doing. Jesus is at the right of hand of God interceding for us. (Romans 8:34) He is the great High Priest who allows us to approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may find mercy and grace in time of need. (Heb.4:14-16) The Holy Spirit also intercedes for us according to the will of God (Rom.8:26,27) If the Trinity goes to these lengths to help us in our prayers should we not be a people of prayer?
- We are continually encouraged to pray. The Lord wants us to pray, to give our requests to Him. The Gospels alone give much encouragement. (Matt.6:5-13; Matt. 7:7,8; Matt.9:38; Matt.21:22; Luke 11:5-13; Luke 18:1John 14:13,14)
4. Biblical, Word Centered, Prayer Impacts What the Person Prays
- The question may be asked, "what do you pray for?" Too many times our prayer lists do not sound much different than a child's list. We ask for health, things, and comfort. Seldom do we hear prayers that are more spiritually oriented. Yet, Christ says seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things (earthly needs) will be added to you as well. (Matt.6:33) When is the last time you prayed for things such as were prayed by the apostle Paul. When praying for the people of Ephesus, Paul asked that God would give them a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, that they may know the hope to which they were called and that they would understand greatness of Christ power toward us who believe. (Eph.1:15-23) In other words Paul was concerned for the spirtual well being of the people he was praying for. He was concerned that they would have a proper view of God. What do you pray for yourself and for others? Are you praying that God would be glorified in you and in others? (2 Thess.1:11) This should be our greatest desire.
5. There is No Excuse Not to Pray
- Here are three excuses that J.C. Ryle mentioned that people use when asked why they don't pray. (Remember Ryle would have written this over a hundred years ago)
1. I don't know how.
2. I don't have time.
3. I don't have a convenient place.
- I have used all three of these at different times in my life. The first one is really no excuse at all. Prayer is simply speaking to God. Our prayers may change as we grow in our knowledge of Him (Is.55:8,9), but how we do it will not. Ryle wrote, "The most ignorant man will find something to say to God, if he has only a mind." The second excuse can be answered in terms of our priorities. We always find time for the things that we find important. It is my prayer that we will understand just how important prayer is and make the time for prayer. The third excuse is the same as the second. I understand in a home with children that a convenient place can be tough to find. However, once again I believe that with some sacrifice a place can be found.
Do you pray? I hope your answer is yes and that it is your desire to do so increasingly as you grow in your love for God!