Now more than ever, those who name the name of Christ should be engaging in regular, earnest prayer, because it is obvious, even to the casual onlooker, that we have entered a very dark place in history. Truth is being exchanged for lies on a daily basis in high and low places, and the god of this world has blinded the minds of men and women who were once regarded of as having some sort of character.
The present condition of our world has been aptly described by several of the Bible prophets, who in vision, beheld the very things we’re seeing with our own eyes, and hearing with our ears. These must be the times which God warned us of, in the final days before Christ would return, and thus, Christians the world over would need to pray like never before. Let’s read:
Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. 8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. 10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. 11 We look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. 14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
Thus, because these things are now occurring in the present tense, and are only scheduled to get worse with the passage of time, a solemn duty rests upon all to pray, not only for personal victories, but also for the gospel, that it be carried to the ends of the earth, and for souls who are going down into Christ-less graves every day.
Prayer is like the breath of the, soul without which we cannot survive the mortal conflict against every internal, and external foe which seek to uproot us from God’s kingdom. Just as we cannot live without breathing, we cannot exist as Christians without a vibrant and consistent prayer life. Thus, whenever we permit our prayer life to fall into disrepair, it will be just a matter of time before we are overthrown.
It is virtually impossible for anyone of us to maintain victorious Christian living without prayer, for we are battling foes that are stronger than ourselves, and the only way to live like a conqueror is for us to be connected to the only Conqueror, even The Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, those who do not pray regularly, in sincerity, are just a spiritual accident waiting to happen. Even Christ, who never knew sin, saw the necessity of a continual connection with The Father, for the victory in behalf of humanity could only be won by depending on God.
Thus, He set us the example to pray consistently, so that we may be able to put the knowledge of the Bible into practice, by intelligent choice coupled together with Divine power through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. Nothing else will do, and no other method that we may employ will suffice, even if we might be versed in a theoretical knowledge of the truth, because the victory in Jesus is not so much knowledge based as it is relationship based. In other words, knowing the scriptures without knowing Christ personally, is like taking the husk without the kernel.
Whenever the citadel of the soul is left vacant for a while, devils will seek re-entry, and there would be no inherent power in ourselves to resist them. Our knowledge of the truth is not sufficient to save from sin, because truth must be coupled together with its Author for it to have any efficacy. Jesus made this cornerstone truth of the gospel abundantly clear so that none of us need to stumble, or walk darkness. Let’s read:
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
John 15: 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
But too often prayer is regarded too lightly, and it is approached in an irreverent or careless manner and no thought or preparation is done, either externally or internally before entering into a season of prayer as if it were just another item on our to-do list. Care must be taken to pray regularly, at times and places that are set aside for that specific purpose. The following therefore are scriptural pointers and examples that would grant us clearer insights into how we should pray, and if we seek to adopt the instructions given, God will be pleased to honor us with His abiding presence at all times.
[1] The time of secret prayer, a specific time. Cooperate prayer as a body of believers is good and not to be neglected, but it will never take the place of personal, private time with God. There are things that only God should hear privately, and therefore, it is necessary for us to pray regularly, at appointed times, specifically and deliberately set aside for that sole purpose. Let’s read:
Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Psalms 5:1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up.
Psalms 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsts for thee, my flesh longs for thee in a dry and thirsty land.
The word “Early” occurring in the previous passages as it pertains to specific times set aside for personal prayer, is primarily referring to prime time, or the very best of our time. This would differ from person to person since there are persons who may work at night. Regular personal prayer should not be left for times when we know we would be exhausted, and would not be able to focus on God, or what we are saying.
Jumbled words and half uttered sentences that are incoherent do not generally honor God, except in such cases like Hannah, who became so distraught that words could not be found to express her inner-most feelings. When, on account of habitual inadequate rest, our minds go in and out of concentration, and we find ourselves forgetting, and then remembering what we came to pray about, then we know for sure that we are not giving God “Prime-time”.
The habit of falling asleep while praying does not do honor to The God of heaven, for if we were to do so in the presence of an earthly monarch, we would be escorted out. Thus, the word “Early”, as it pertains to regular personal prayer, should be understood in the context of giving God the very best of our time, when our energies have been replenished, and we can think and commune clearly. Let’s read:
Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord.
Malachi 1:11 From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. 12 But ye have profaned it; 13 And ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. 14 For I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
Again, as it pertains to our regular seasons of prayer that are set aside, it is best to do so when there are not a multitude of noises and other distractions that are taking place in the house. When the children are crying, and pots and pans are clanging in the house, or when the smell of cooking food wafts on the air, or the television, or music is blaring, then we know that such times are not the best for prayer.
Therefore, we should choose such times for prayer when there is the least possibility of interruption or distraction, when God alone would be the focus of our attention. God must be approached and treated in a manner that is commensurate with His Great Person and high office.
[2] The place of secret prayer, a specific place. A special place should be set aside or designated for regular personal prayer, wherever it is possible, for God is a God of order. Moving from room to room, from the bedroom to the bathroom, or from the living room to the patio is not the best plan, if and where it can be avoided.
In speaking about personal prayer, Christ instructed us to resort to our “Closet”, a specific place that is designated for that purpose. When Abraham called on the name of the Lord, he often did so at specific places, where his sheep would not be bleating in his ears, nor his dog barking to distract him, but rather, at the special place, where God and God alone was to be his focus. Let’s read:
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Genesis 12:7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there he built an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him. 8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and there he built an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 13:3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
Jacob also followed in the footsteps of Abraham by setting aside specific places dedicated to prayer and worship. This is because the human mind naturally regurgitates memories and recalls specific incidents that are associated with specific places. That’s why, whenever one returns to their native land, a flood of memories of their past experiences immediately come to mind. Let’s read:
Genesis 28:10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
The same practice of meeting regularly with God at a specific place was mandated when Moses was to meet with God on a regular basis. It’s not that God is restricted to anyone place, it’s because the mood, the experiences, and the memories, associated with a specific place are conducive to putting our minds into a frame of prayer.
When dating, couples often go to specific places to share their love, and those places, together with the words there spoken, and the experiences enjoyed together are forever etched into their memory. And later on in life, if for any reason, they were to return to that special place, a flood of memories will then sweep over them. Similarly, our regular place of communing with God should be special. Let’s read:
Exodus 25:21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
Exodus 29:42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. 43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.
[3] The type of prayer: Repeating specific prearranged, prepared prayers, or mantras are not the way secret prayer should be done. Neither is it necessary to repeat God’s name over and over again. In the model prayer given by Christ, He addresses The Father only once, not that we are restricted to that number, but it is not necessary to address God numerous times in private prayer. In other words, the instruction of Christ is encapsulated briefly in the following passage. Let’s read:
Exodus 33:11 And the Lord spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaks unto his friend.
When a person speaks to his or her friend, it would be considered quite unusual for one to mention the person’s name over and over again in the very same conversation, and therefore, it is not necessary to address God multiple times, for Holy and reverend is his name. Let’s read:
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
[4] What to pray for: Every sincere prayer receives an answer. There is no such thing as The Lord not hearing or answering the earnest prayer of His people. This one is huge, because many prayers that are offered are actually misguided, according to the Bible. There are certain things we should know and understand about communing with God, and they are clearly outlined in the following passages. Let’s read very carefully:
2nd Chronicles 7:12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord.
1st John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
John 16: 23 Verily, verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
As a general rule of thumb, the way must be cleared for our prayers to ascend to God’s throne, meaning, that if there are any known sins, or errors that have been, or are being committed, these must first be repented of, confessed, and forsaken in our minds before any other request can be made. This is of critical importance, for there are some who make petitions without first searching their own souls. Let’s read:
Psalms 66: 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
Proverbs 28:9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Again, when prayer is offered, it should not always focus primarily on ourselves, and what we desire, but rather on God’s will for our lives, and for others. The interests of God’s kingdom, and the souls for whom Christ died should be of utmost importance. But for every prayer to focus on our own personal troubles, grievances, or concerns, is misguided, for then we become the center of attention, and not God and others.
When Job was sick, he at first tended to dwell a lot on his misfortunes, and for a time he became pretty absorbed in thinking why me. However, it was when his focus was removed from himself, and he began to pray of his friends that the deliverance he sought was granted. Therefore, we too are not to focus too much on our own plight but instead, we should be willing to pray earnestly for the benefit of others. Let’s read:
Job 42:10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
As we face unprecedented times in the history of this earth, and as clouds of conflict are gathering on the horizon, we will need to pray much more, and earnestly, for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, so that man’s history of tumults, wars, and troubles may come to an end. We therefore end with this short statement of fact which should remind us of the importance of prayer.
More prayer, more power. Less prayer, less power.
God Bless!