THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

Many years ago I attended a Christian Writer’s Conference at Mt. Hermon. Over 500 Christian authors, editors and publishers were in attendance seeking to learn how to serve God better using their creative writing talents. During this conference we had the opportunity to meet numerous fellow Christians. One Brother in Christ I met while eating dinner one evening was a handicapped young man by the name of Dan. As I talked with him I learned that he had lost his backpack in the transfer from the airport. He was very concerned about this and I would say even angry about the loss of his possessions. Included in the backpack were numerous personal items, medications and his billfold.

 

I could relate to Dan’s dilemma. I get rather testy myself when I lose or misplace something. I decided that I would pray for Dan, that his backpack would be found and returned to him. Each night as I went to bed I prayed that Dan’s backpack would be restored to him, intact and with every item present. As you know as well as I do, prayers are not answered according to our desires or timing, but according to God’s will. Despite Dan’s extreme desire to be reunited with his backpack, it was not to happen during the conference. I learned later that my prayers were answered. Dan received his backpack with every item accounted for, but not until after the conference was over. Prayers are always answered, but according to God’s will and purpose.

 

God wants us to understand that we must trust Him for the answers to our prayers. He also desires that our prayers be frequent. Jerry Jenkins, co-author of the “Left Behind” book series spoke at the conference. He shared that when he was interviewing Billy Graham for the book “Just As I Am,” he asked him what set him apart from other evangelists and why God had blessed him with such a great ministry. Mr. Graham responded that he didn’t really understand why God had been so good to him. Mr. Graham admitted that there were better preachers than he. He went on to say that he had always been consistent at two things that he felt that Christ required of him as a believer. Jerry asked what these were. Mr. Graham replied that he always made sure that no matter where he was in the world that he read his Bible each day and prayed without ceasing. Jerry believed that it was possible to read your Bible everyday, but he wasn’t sure he could comprehend how you could pray without ceasing. Jerry, doubting that even Mr. Graham could pray without ceasing, asked him if he were praying right now. Mr. Graham responded that yes he was. He was praying that this book that Jerry was writing would glorify God and lead more sinners to Christ. Jerry realized that to pray without ceasing is within our grasp. To pray without ceasing was to be obedient to the commands of Christ.

 

There is a good reason God requires us to pray without ceasing, because it touches the deepest parts of our souls. When I returned home late at night from the conference, my son who was very young at the time reminded me of the ritual that we had established for him going to bed. Even though we had been gone for the last five nights, my son Jeff wanted to be sure that I prayed with him before he went to bed. Why, because there’s something about prayer that soothes the soul. Prayer bonds us not only to God, but also to each other. I could sense the warm security my son felt as I prayed that God would care for him during the night.

 

What a comfort prayers can be. Prayer is a necessary part of our lives as God’s children. Prayers can only be answered if prayed. Prayers are best done frequently. Prayers minister to us in more ways than we can imagine. Prayer gets results. Prayer should be constant. Prayer touches our soul.

 

I have a special prayer list for each night of the week that I pray through each night. The prayer list includes family and friends, people who I know need special prayers, pastors and elders that oversee my church, members of the small group members that my wife and I oversee, as well ministries that we support. But before I pray for all of these things I praise and glorify my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior and the precious Holy Spirit who lives within me and ministers to me. I believe it is important to first praise and glorify God first because they take priority over my life. Then I pray for the petitions I wish to bring before God and lastly end with the words, “In Christ’s name, Amen.”

 

It’s important to keep that order in our prayers I believe. Praising God the Father, Son and Spirit first for they are to be honored for the fact that they are my God. They showed me mercy and through their ministry provided for my salvation. Secondly, I pray my petitions so that I can allow God to know how important these people and ministries are to me. Lastly when I end the prayer in Christ’s name it illustrates that I recognize that all of my life as a Disciple of Christ is made possible by God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Without His sacrifice on the cross I would be dead in my sins. What a privilege it is to be able to pray to the Creator of the Universe, the Son of God, Jesus Christ who died for my sins and the precious Holy Spirit that God gave me to live within me and not only guide me in my relationship with God, but empower me to serve and honor Him.

 

I would encourage you to seek to pray to the Father, in Christ’s name with the presence of the Holy Spirit within you. If you don’t know Christ as your personal Savior; I would encourage you to seek to read a Bible and consider the great timeless truths it contains. Talk to a Disciple of Christ and ask how you can accept Christ as your personal Savior. You’ll never regret it.