We Need Prayer

“Pray at all times…” wrote Paul in Ephesians 6:18.
“Devote yourselves to prayer…” Paul urged in Colossians 4:2.
“Pray constantly.” was Paul’s directive in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.  

Prayer is a vital part of the life of a Christian. “A prayer-less Christian is like a bus driver trying alone to push his bus out of a rut because he doesn’t know Clark Kent is on board…” wrote John Piper in his book ‘Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist’. The importance of prayer is not seen in how God responds, because God always responds. Sometimes we will receive just what we sought in prayer, other times we may not like His response, and there may even be times when we can’t discern His response. Rather the importance and real power in prayer is what prayer does to us—the children of God praying to their Heavenly Father. Prayer changes us in three very big ways.

The first change prayer makes is your focus. Prayer turns the focus from the storm, from the treasure or trinket, from the plate of food, from daily physical life to God. It is in prayer that we change our focus. Prayer always directs the Christian, the child of God, back to the Father; back to His love, His word, and His ways. The second change is a change in position. Prayer brings us to our knees and humbles us. John Piper wrote in the same book mentioned above, “prayer is the turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that He will provide the help we need. Prayer humbles us as needy and exalts God as wealthy.” Finally, prayer changes your heart. Prayer will fill a lonely or discouraged heart with love, a troubled or grieving heart with peace, and a worried or doubting heart with confidence.

It is no wonder that one of Jesus’ disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray…” in Luke 11:1. Without prayer, a Christian will never become like Christ—and the church becomes nothing more than a fraternity, a sorority or some other type of social organization.

Let’s increase how much we pray this week,

Please share with me your thoughts… Glenn