Make Time For Prayer

(This article is taken from the 1/12/07 issue of The Sword of the Lord, written by the former editor, Dr. Curtis Hutson. The Christian's prayer life is often their biggest challenge; prayerfully this could be a help to all of us.)

Prayer is the one thing that Christians are commanded to do without ceasing. We are not told to sing without ceasing or to go to church without ceasing or the read the Bible without ceasing, but "pray without ceasing." (II Thess. 5:17)

The scripture also says in Luke 18:1, "men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Dr. John R. Rice said, "All your failures are prayer failures;" then he quoted James 4:2, "ye have not, because ye ask not."

A. J. Gordon said, "There is more you can do after you pray, but there is nothing more you can do until you pray."

Prayer is God's appointed way of getting things. He said in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Prayer is God's appointed way to fullness of joy. He said in John 16:24, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

Prayer is God's appointed way to obtain forgiveness and cleansing. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Prayer is God's appointed way to obtain victory over anxiety. Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Prayer is also God's appointed way of expressing praise and gratitude. II Corinthians 9:11 says, "Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. "

When we pray, God may not do everything we ask Him to do; but if we don't pray, we don't even give Him a chance. So pray about things that seem utterly imposssible; it may surprise you what God will do.

Remember the possibilities of prayer exceed your ability to ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 gives the assurance that God "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think."