January 9, 2009

Never Underestimate the Need for Prayer

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. (Romans 15:30-32 NKJV)

Here was an apostle of Christ not unacquainted with the hardships of ministry begging for prayer. If anyone would have confidence to go it alone, it would be Paul.

Paul confessed to the Corinthians. “. . . I [am] more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty [stripes] minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; [in] journeys often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils of [my own] countrymen, [in] perils of the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28 NKJV)

With all this experience, or maybe because of all this experience, Paul understood the need for much prayer. Unfortunately, a sampling of most congregations will reveal that professing believers just don’t pray, as they ought. Perhaps it is because we live in an affluent society, or it might be because we don’t engage the enemy enough to feel the need. Whatever the cause, it has cost us the joy of seeing God active in our lives.

Living by faith demands that we call upon our God. If you blend in with the world, then it is easy to move through time without faith. However, if you live separated lives the world will notice and take action to beat you down. “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV)

My dear friends live for the Lord today. Walk in a godly fashion, and pray for the Kingdom of God. No matter what you have to face today, you should face it first in prayer. God delights in the prayers of the saints they as are mixed with sweet incense and offered to God by the angels (Rev. 8:4). Never underestimate your need for prayer. Amen.