“All I could do was pray.” How often have we heard that as an expression of helplessness. All I could do? All?
During my life I have met several old people who had a profound ministry of prayer. They all seemed to be women, but I haven’t yet worked out the significance of that. These people had reached a stage in life where they were no longer physically able to do much to serve the church. So they did what they could - they prayed. Some of them were apologetic, as if their contribution to the work of the Lord was rather pathetic.
Far from it. The Lord had used their frailty to teach them a lesson that we all need to learn - that without him we can achieve nothing. Only the branch that remains in the vine will bear fruit.
Our human nature has a strong bias towards self-reliance. Even good things like studying the bible, evangelism, serving the poor can quickly become about us - what we are doing to bring about Christ’s kingdom. However, the gospel of grace is supposed to cut through all of that.
While it is true that even prayer can become yet another thing that we do to show off to God, it is probably the hardest arena in which to trust in ourselves. Just as men hate asking for directions (because it means admitting that: 1. They are lost. 2. They need help) so the very act of prayer is admitting that we cannot solve our own problems but only God can.
Christians who really understand the gospel are people who pray. They pray all the time. About everything. No event and no decision is faced without asking for God’s help. Their utter dependence on him has a direct correlation with their prayer life. It has been said that if you want to know how popular the preacher is count how many people turn up on a Sunday; but if you want to know how popular Jesus is then count how many are at the prayer meeting.
Prayer is, I think, the most undervalued ministry in churches today.
- read the bible - learn from the heroes of our faith and how they prayed.
- pray - on your own, in pairs, in threes, as a church. Anywhere.
“Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 17)
3 comments:
Need a pair of binoculars to read that tiny font!
'If you want to know how popular Jesus is then count how many people are at the prayer meeting.
Then Jesus is not popular at PBC. This breaks my heart. When I was converted our church was praying all the time, as part of the service (and I don't mean just 1 or 2 mins of fairly self centred requests but real praising/adoring prayer). It would be unthinkable not to commence our meetings with prayer and praise. Perhaps the theology and teaching was a bit shaky but the excitement and joy of being with Jesus was palpable. What is going on here?? Do we not want to enter His presence? Have we not 'tasted and seen'??
I think its partly fear of the supernatural. After all, we are talking out there to Jesus who we cannot see (and by God's grace He draws near to us in that wonderful process.) In a certain sense, I think educated Westerners can 'see' Jesus better through the intellect which is why listening to sermons and discussing them is so much more popular (and we have a great preacher at PBC!!).And that also means we don't have to get too up close and personal, especially emotionally. I can't imagine praising God in prayer without the emotions being at least stirred (clearly we don't have to feel like it to praise God) and that emotional connection seems to be so feared in our Western churches.
Cathy D
I found a great iPhone app last night: Prayer Points. Pretty sure it was FREE but I forget. Coupla tiny weeny little bugs with formatting but overall it's wonderful ... you can add points as you think of them through the day, organise by type and subject, tick off when answered, add resources such as bible passages, and set reminders for quiet time.
I'd been using iPhone Notes before ... this is brilliant!!
If anyone wants to have a sticky at it, just ask next time you see me. :D
Janine
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