I’ve never seen electricity. Sure, I’ve witnessed lightning strikes and every now and then an accidental spark or shock, but in reality electricity is an invisible power coursing through my home’s veins. I don't see it. I rarely think about it. But I'm thankful I've got it. We live in a wired world where countless wall sockets animate the inanimate electrical appliances and devices we use every day. Just plug in a cord and computers light up, refrigerators cool down, and televisions come to life. It’s an amenity we often take for granted (that is, until the power goes down). Without electricity, batteries lose their charge. Without electricity, homes fail to light, heat or cool. Without electricity, life turns ugly and uncomfortable, dank and dark.
And so does faith without prayer.
You see, I’ve never seen a prayer either (but I'm thankful I have it, too). It’s a mystery to me how mere mortal words can change life, love and sometimes even luck. A 12-year old friend of my son is a two-time cancer survivor that thrives by prayer. A tragic car accident claims the life of a George Fox University senior (killing the other driver and injuring three more students) this past Saturday night and prayer is the only Peace. I’ve watched prayer heal marriages, turn storms, provide financial aid, and save integrity, hope and life. Prayer animates. It resurrects the dead, lightens the load, frees the oppressed and binds the evil one.
Without prayer, life is ugly and uncomfortable, dank and dark. It’s why the Apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesian believers to pray all kinds of prayer, at all times, with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. Prayer is spiritual electricity. Without it, our soul’s batteries lose their charge. And when we pray “in the Spirit” or “in Jesus’ name” we connect to a Divine spark that changes hearts, minds, lives, families, churches, schools, jobs, communities, our nation and even the world.
That’s why we should pray like there’s no tomorrow. After all, you’ll never know how important prayer is until you no longer have one.
NOTABLE QUOTABLES ON PRAYER:
I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it. —John Wesley
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go. -- Abraham Lincoln
Always respond to every impulse to pray. The impulse to pray may come when you are reading or when you are battling with a text. I would make an absolute law of this – always obey such an impulse. --Martyn Lloyd-Jones
One can believe intellectually in the efficacy of prayer and never do any praying. --Catherine Marshall
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? -- Corrie Ten Boom
Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. --John Bunyan
Of all the duties enjoined by Christianity none is more essential and yet more neglected than prayer. --François Fénelon
Father, we have but one prayer in this moment. We ask that our feeble faith and anemic prayers be heard by You, the Omniscient and Omnipotent God. You know our hurts and hopes. You know our vices and virtues. You know our disappointment and desires. Without prayer, our lives would not light with joy, peace or grace. Without prayer, our hearts would not heat with passion and purpose. Without prayer, our minds would not power with insight and innovation. Prayer is our lifeline to You, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment