eDevotion
Encouragement for your daily
walk with God
One of my former pastors was
fond of saying that prayer was the last thing a Christian did when all of
his/her own efforts failed. He probably wasn’t far from the truth. I’m
certainly convinced that prayer is the weakest discipline of most professing
Christians.
R. A. Torrey, a great preacher from the past century, once wrote ten powerful reasons why believers should pray:
· There is a devil and prayer is the God-appointed means of resisting him.
· Prayer is God's way for us to obtain what we need from Him.
· The apostles, whom God set forth to be a pattern for us, considered prayer to be the most important business of their lives.
· Prayer occupied a prominent place and played a very important part in the earthly life of our Lord.
· Prayer is the most important part of the present ministry of our Lord, since He is now interceding for us.
· Prayer is the means God has appointed for our receiving mercy from Him and obtaining grace to help in time of need.
· Prayer is the means of obtaining the fullness of God's joy.
· Prayer with thanksgiving is the means of obtaining freedom from anxiety, and in anxiety's place is peace, which passes understanding.
· Prayer is the means by which we are to keep watchful and be alert at Christ's return.
· Prayer is used by God to promote our spiritual growth, bring power into our work, lead others to faith in Christ, and bring all other blessings to Christ's church.
That is a great list, but it is not exhaustive. And what it does for me is to remind me that I cannot have a vital relationship with God apart from prayer. It is how I communicate with Him, and then He, in turn, communicates with me through His Word.
I’m reminded of the disciples who wanted to be like their Teacher, Jesus. They were witnesses of His effective prayer life, and desired to be like Him. One day they came to Him and asked a profound thing of Him. “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1) They didn’t ask that He teach them HOW to pray, but TO pray!
We would do well not to make prayer a “last resort” kind of thing. It isn’t the last thing—IT’S THE BEST THING!
God is listening…I hope you are praying!
R. A. Torrey, a great preacher from the past century, once wrote ten powerful reasons why believers should pray:
· There is a devil and prayer is the God-appointed means of resisting him.
· Prayer is God's way for us to obtain what we need from Him.
· The apostles, whom God set forth to be a pattern for us, considered prayer to be the most important business of their lives.
· Prayer occupied a prominent place and played a very important part in the earthly life of our Lord.
· Prayer is the most important part of the present ministry of our Lord, since He is now interceding for us.
· Prayer is the means God has appointed for our receiving mercy from Him and obtaining grace to help in time of need.
· Prayer is the means of obtaining the fullness of God's joy.
· Prayer with thanksgiving is the means of obtaining freedom from anxiety, and in anxiety's place is peace, which passes understanding.
· Prayer is the means by which we are to keep watchful and be alert at Christ's return.
· Prayer is used by God to promote our spiritual growth, bring power into our work, lead others to faith in Christ, and bring all other blessings to Christ's church.
That is a great list, but it is not exhaustive. And what it does for me is to remind me that I cannot have a vital relationship with God apart from prayer. It is how I communicate with Him, and then He, in turn, communicates with me through His Word.
I’m reminded of the disciples who wanted to be like their Teacher, Jesus. They were witnesses of His effective prayer life, and desired to be like Him. One day they came to Him and asked a profound thing of Him. “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1) They didn’t ask that He teach them HOW to pray, but TO pray!
We would do well not to make prayer a “last resort” kind of thing. It isn’t the last thing—IT’S THE BEST THING!
God is listening…I hope you are praying!
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