Prayer

Prayer is a vital point to the Christian's life. Prayer is a privilege given to us by God. Prayer is esteemed highly in the Scriptures. Prayer is that blessing with which we communicate with God. Prayer allows us to have a close walk with God. Prayer allows us to take our every need to God's ear. The Lord even said, "Pray without ceasing."

In the Scriptures, we see incredible examples of prayer for us to follow. In the Old Testament, we see Abraham conversing with God. Though this conversing was in person, yet what Abraham is doing is what we do when we pray. When we pray, we must realize that we are in the presence of our Lord even as Abraham was, though we can't see Him. This is no more illustrated as in the prayer of Elijah. Elijah prayed and the fifty men were consumed by God. He prayed at another time and the sacrifice was eaten up. This shows that we do indeed have not a God that is afar off, but a God that is near. As David said, "Thine ear is attended unto my cry." Jacob also shows us, perhaps more powerfully, than the story of Elijah that we are in the presence of God when we pray. I heard a sermon once in which the pastor said, "As Jacob wrestled with God for a blessing, so must we wrestle with God in prayer." It was said of William Burns, "He spent his life at the Mercy Seat of Jesus Christ." In other words, he lived on his knees in the presence of the Lord of Host. He as a priest unto his God, went into the Holy of Holies and dwelt at the mercy seat that is upon the altar.

In the New Testament, we are taught by our Lord how to pray. The Lord gives us examples of prayer through Himself. We see Him praying the High Priestly prayer. We also see Him steeling away to spend time praying to His Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ was an incredible leader and shepherd of His people. Whenever He commanded His people, He gave them examples that they should follow. I ask you this day to spend your life in communion with God even as our Lord did. You can not do this, if you do not pray.

Also in the New Testament, we are commanded to pray for our leaders and for those that are in authority. We live in a day in which we have leaders ruling over us that do not know the Lord. This should send us to our knees more than ever. If you want to see a reformation, get on your knees. If you want to see the lives of you relatives turned toward God, get on your knees. If you want to live in communion with God, get on your knees. The Bible says, "the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." God wants us to lean on Him and to trust in Him and we can not fully do this, if we do not spend our life on our knees in prayer to the One that gave us life.

In previous posts, I spoke of how we are to redeem the time. Prayer is exceedingly important to redeeming the time. We must dedicate our time to the Lord. I would suggest dedicating each day to the Lord when you wake up each morning. I would also suggest asking the Lord's blessing on the next day each night. By doing this, you are bringing your focus back to the Lord.

I ask you this day to labor diligently in prayer. I ask you because the Lord commanded you to do these things. I ask you to go to your God in prayer. Soli Deo Gloria.