Thursday, March 30, 2006

Living a Prayerful Life

How many of us speak nary a word to God except for a mumbled prayer at bedtime? How long would your marriage last if that's all you spoke to your spouse?

Even if we have a personal prayer life, how many of us make the time to pray with our fellow believers? How long would your marriage last if you refused to relate to your spouse in public?

Prayer is the cornerpiece of a successful spiritual life. It is communion with God. In groups, it's communion through the Spirit with both the Father and each other. It is a powerful weapon: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Eph. 6:17-18, MKJV). If the Word of God is our sword, prayer is our heavy artillery and our radio to receive backup.

Prayer is the incense which fills God's heavenly Temple with a sweet smell (Rev. 5:8). It is the channel through which the Spirit flows. Why then do we wonder why we don't see God moving when we have such anemic prayer lives?

And finally, the prayers of the righteous are powerful (Jas. 5:16), but the prayers of the wicked go unheard (Pro. 15:29). When there is unrepentant sin in our lives, how can we wonder why our prayers go unanswered?

Consider this a challenge, both to my Messianic brethren and to my Sunday Christian brethren as well: The hour is late, the night is growing darker, and we have a job to do. Let's take up the most important tool that God has given us, and make communion with Him the centerpiece of our lives and ministries.

Shalom

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