A Christian Call To Prayer

A couple of years ago my wife and I were in Cairo for five days. More than anything, the widespread religious devotion touched me deeply. For example, on the first day our Muslim driver and guide took us to a locals-only type place for lunch. While eating, one of the five daily calls to prayer sounded. (It's a city of 18 million, and you hear the calls to prayer everywhere.) The two men left the table, washed and prayed, right in the restaurant. Every Muslim is called to pray at least five times a day. They must stop what they are doing, and take time to pray. You can’t tell me that their devotion to prayer doesn’t profoundly impact their lives. Can you imagine if we did that in our Nation? What unity! What devotion! What consecration!

I readily admit my prayer life has not been what it should. Of course I pray every day, but often they are short prayers, all about me and my life. I grow weary while praying, my mind wanders, and my spirit feels unfulfilled. I just finished Kenneth E. Hagin’s book “The Art of Prayer” and I am now committed to praying as God would have me. I said that I wanted this website to help people begin living a successful Christian life. I assure you, that won’t occur without prayer.

Prayer can accomplish anything. Let me say that again. PRAYER CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING. Jesus said that nothing will be impossible for us. Well we have preached that and we believe that, but it’s time to make it happen. Anything I ask the Father in Jesus’ Name He will do for me. Wherever two or more are gathered, Jesus is there, and they have what they ask for. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. I know I’m righteous, not because of what I did, but because of Jesus Christ. My prayer, if effective and fervent, will avail much. Glory to God.

I’m done praying little two second prayers, “God please help my family, God please help the people in Haiti.” It’s time we get serious about prayer. Paul talked about praying in the Spirit. Paul talked about groaning. Paul talked about travailing. Yes I’ve prayed in the Spirit, maybe for a few minutes. Now I’m talking about Spiritual warfare. It’s time to get on our face. It’s time to go before God with fervency. We are going to groan and we are going to travail and glory to God, in the Spirit we are going to bring forth.

Paul prayed for Timothy and he said his prayers built a memorial before God. It’s time we build some memorials. Paul continually prayed for many of the groups He had witnessed to (probably them all). We know God hears our prayers; we are His Sons and Daughters. If you really believed that God heard all your prayers, and God would do anything you ask, shouldn’t you pray more? Well, you and I both say we’ve believed it, but now it’s time we act on it.

We can go boldly before the throne of Grace. Jesus is our Great High Priest. We are God’s Children. If the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, then what would happen if we all began praying effectively and fervently? I don’t think we can really imagine. There is no aspect of this world that can’t change by the power of God. The financial situation can change. The political situation can change. Wars, terrorism, genocide, even abortion. Every situation could be changed, because all things are possible with God.

People say that God is in control, and I’m not disputing that. But it’s easy for nonbelievers to dismiss God’s goodness when this world is ravaged by hate and pain. God is in control, and God is sovereign, but are you going to say that the world’s problems are His will? I don’t think so. Is all of the world’s death and pain His will? No chance. So if they are not His will, is their nothing we can do about it? Yes, we can do something. We can begin praying now.

Jesus told us to pray that God’s will would be done on earth. Jesus wouldn’t tell us to waste our time. He wouldn’t say to do this if God’s will was automatically being done in the earth. And He wouldn’t say to do this if our prayers wouldn’t effect the accomplishment of His will. Praise God. Our prayers are key to God’s will being done in the earth.

So why do so many things clearly contrary to His will exist on earth? Because We ARE NOT PRAYING? Well, at least for me, that’s over. I’m going to pray in the Spirit and pray with my understanding. If the Spirit wills, I’m going to groan and travail and bring forth through prayer. I’m excited. I know that God’s will will be done in my life, because I can pray and see that come to pass. If you pray for anything, believing you receive, you will have it. (Mark 11:24)

I encourage you to take up prayer like never before. I encourage you to read Brother Hagin’s book, “The Art of Prayer.” It will only take a few hours and your life will never be the same. Our hands are not bound. God’s hand is not shortened. God’s hand is strong. With God all things are possible. We can see anything change in this world, if we will pray.

“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.”
2 Chronicles 7:14