September 2009

08.27.2009

ne Parson’s Opinion


Why do Christians not pray? Even among pastors, the statistics reveal that less than 10 minutes a day are spent praying. Why do you think Christians talk a lot about prayer but pray very little?

I cannot pretend to know the whole answer to this question (I guess if I did, I would write a book about prayer!), but let me take a try at some possible answers. I’ll raise the objections and then try to answer the objections:

1. “God wouldn’t listen to someone like me. I know what I am like and what I have done.” Yes, God knows what you are like and what you have done, and He loves you, period! As a Christian, you are His child and He desires for you to talk to Him. Your lack of a perfect performance was dealt with at the cross.
2. “My prayers don’t work. I’ve tried praying and nothing changed.” Oh, yes it did! Your prayer changed you and/or the circumstances, or the timing is not right for you to see the answer just yet. James 5:16 says, “...the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
3. “What will I do if I pray and nothing happens?” Don’t you think it’s about time you experienced God? It is God who invites you to pray. If there is nothing to God’s intervention in your life, don’t you think you ought to find out and wonder no longer?

Let me give you a challenge to begin an exciting journey of experiencing God through prayer. Make a list of people or situations that need God’s help. Then, for the next 30 days, every day, talk to God about your list. As you pray, He will remind you of Scriptures which you can pray with each request.

For example, if you are praying for someone who is not a Christian, He will probably remind you of II Peter 3:9, “He is not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.”

Make a notation of your request, the Scripture to pray with it, and how God answered.

I believe this little exercise will bring great benefit to you and to the Kingdom of God.

See you on the Lord’s Day,
Jim

Posted by arbc at 05:02 PM