Why Pray?
J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) was a prolific writer, vigorous preacher and faithful pastor in England. He had this to say about prayer.
Prayer is the main secret of success in spiritual business. It moves Him who can move heaven and earth. It brings down the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, without whom the finest sermons, the clearest teaching, and the most diligent labors, are all alike in vain. It is not always those who have the most eminent gifts who are most successful laborers for God. It is generally those who keep up closest communion with Christ and are most constant in prayer.
Our community group has been doing accountability checks with each other over the past couple of months on how our prayer life is going. We’ve been checking with each other to see if we have been praying, how it’s been going, and what God is revealing to us during this time. I have been confronted with the fact that if I am not focused, days can come and go without me communicating with my Creator. Life has a way of pulling us away if we don’t recognize it.
Ryle also stated, “If you want to see if someone is alive, you check to see if they are breathing. If you want to see if someone is alive spiritually, you check to see if they are praying.”
Why should we pray?
- God commands us to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing”; Colossians 4:2, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving”; Ephesians 6:18, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
- Prayer is the mark of a Christian, the way faith expresses itself. Acts 9:11.
- Prayer works. James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 4:2, “ You do not have, because you do not ask.”
Prayer goes with faith, hand in hand. Lack of prayer is a warning, a blinking light on the dashboard, choose to ignore at your own peril.
God is a refuge for us and He hears our prayers!
Recent Comments