By Mark Maher
“If you’re working, pray. If you’re anxious, pray. If you’re angry, pray. If you’re happy, pray. Always pray. Prayer has power.”
Matthew 21:13
“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a HOUSE of PRAYER.”
God’s house is a “house of prayer” as now we can engage with the presence of God through a relationship with Christ: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and FIND GRACE to help us in our TIME of NEED.” (Hebrews 4:16)
He says “come to me all who are weary” (Matthew 11:28) “the broken-hearted” (Psalm 34:18), and “He is a refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.” (Isaiah 46:1-2)
In Ephesians 6:18 we read the following words, “With every prayer and request, PRAY at ALL TIMES in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all PERSEVERANCE.” Prayer should be throughout the day. We are literally walking with Jesus all day.
Have you prayed about it? Have you involved God yet? Did you ask for God’s discernment? “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4) Do you trust him? Will you pray on it and then sit back and let God do it his way. You know it’s going to involve a heart change. You know God’s more concerned about your heart than your situation. Seek God’s will, not mine. “Ask God to do it better than I could hope for or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)
“God will tell you a lot about yourself based on how you pray.” Joyce Meyers
Do you pray for yourself? Do you pray for others? Do you pray for God‘s will? Do you pray for wisdom? Do you pray for strength? Do you pray for God to refine you, to challenge you, “search you, know your heart; test you and know your anxious thoughts. To see if there are any offensive way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:22-23). Change us, ask for love, pour it in God, so we can have the wisdom and strength to pour it out.
Is my prayer life all about me? Would Jesus flip the question and ask what about me? I love the song lyric “when the music fades, and all is stripped away, and I simply come. Lord I’m sorry for the things I’ve made it, when it’s really all about you. It’s all about you Jesus.” (Heart of Worship)
In Luke 11:1–13 Jesus tells a parable of a friend who gives in to a request because of how BOLD and PERSISTENCE his friend is in asking. Prayer is to be audacious, bold, constant, and earnest. We are called to “rejoice always, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, give thanks in ALL circumstances…” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)
Daniel prayed even when faced with adversity, demonstrating a purposeful and steadfast commitment to God (Daniel 6:22). Daniel‘s character was only as strong as his prayer life. He had an “even if” faith which I think he could only acquire through a strong prayer life. He also humbled himself before God (Daniel 10:12)
