Have You Prayed Today?

Doctor Charles Parkhurst, distinguished preacher and reformer of New York, in an address in which he dealt with his early religious life related how he had often heard his father pray in the church, at the family altar, and at the family table. But it was only when he heard him praying aloud on his knees in the barn that he knew the reality of prayer and the deep reality of the religious life.

The Bible urges us to pray. Yet too many of us complain that prayers are not being answered. We have not received the results that we were looking for. Has God failed to keep his promises? Are Jesus' words empty and meaningless? If there is no answer to our prayers, the fault lies with us. We need to persistently search the Bible and, like the disciples, ask the Lord to teach us how to pray. God has laid down certain principles of prayer, which, if followed, assure us of God's answer to every humble request we make. Let's take a look a some of these principles now and the rest next time...

First, we are to pray according to God's will (1 John 5:14-15). We must not forget to recognize that God is Lord of all things. Who are we to tell the almighty, all-wise God what he must do and how he must do it? God knows better than we know! Too often we think that we cannot live unless we have our way. In everything we need, let us always pray that the will of God be done.

Secondly, when we go to the Lord in prayer, sins may form a barrier between us and him. Therefore, it only makes sense that these sins need to be removed. There's just one catch. We can't remove them ourselves. Jesus must remove our sins! Fortunately for us, He has done this by the blood of the cross. Because of this unselfish act, in the name of Jesus we can approach the prayer-answering God. If we come to God through Christ, in other words, pray in the name of Jesus, we will find a loving Father who can lift our burdens or give strength to bear them (John 14:13-14).

Lastly, sometimes, for various reasons which are too lengthy to list here, we just don't have it in us to pray as we should. In those times of weakness, or where we can't find the right words to say, the Holy Spirit will pray on our behalf. The Holy Spirit, who knows our thoughts and what is in our hearts, helps us by stepping in and praying for us (Romans 8:26). Now that's an extremely comforting thought!

Dear friends, what I want you to take away from this message is not that you feel guilty about your lack of a prayer life. I want you to feel hungry for a greater prayer life. I want you to come to see prayer not as a duty but as a privilege. I want you to pray not because of our battle with Satan, or because of the pain of those around you. I want you to pray because of the sweetness that comes from spending time with the Father!

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7; Ephesians 6:18; Mark 11:22-25

Prayer:

"Bestow upon me, O Lord my God, understanding to know thee, diligence to seek thee, wisdom to find thee, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace thee." -Thomas Aquinas

May God bless you always,

Ginger