"Much praying is not done because we do not plan to pray. We do not drift into spiritual life . . . We will not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray. That means, self-consciously setting aside time, to do nothing but pray" ( “A Call to Spiritual Reformation” p 19 Don Carson)
J.I. Packer wrote about his own pilgrimage in prayer and commented, "I believe that prayer is the measure of the man, spiritually, in a way that nothing else is, so that how we pray is as important a question as we can ever face" (My Path of Prayer, David Hanes, ed., Worthing, West Sussex: Henry E. Walter, 1981, p. 56).
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5: 16)
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5: 14-15)
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18)
God has increasingly impressed upon me, the deep necessity and urgency to pray. To call upon the name of the Lord; to seek His face more earnestly; to pour out my heart in praise and worship; to intercede and petition. Indeed, God hears our prayers, answers our prayers and moves in response to our prayers.
Prayers offered up to the throne room of God to intervene, to restore, to heal, to transform, to continue the work of sanctification, to save, to illuminate, to reveal, to forgive, to bind Satan, to protect, to give wisdom and understanding. They are heard by our Almighty God and loving Heavenly Father.
The more I grow in fellowship with God and His people; the more I am involved in the daily lives of others; the more I am aware of the happenings of persecuted Christians and other missionaries around the world; and the more “intensely” and “furiously” Satan shoots his fiery darts of temptations, enticements and doubts at God’s people and God’s church… the more I know that prayer is desperately and vitally important. Prayer is the key to spiritual power and “survival”.
Why should we be so dependant on prayer? It is because, in ourselves, we are limited in strength and ability; in wisdom and revelation; in power and might; in discernment and understanding. Our God is more than able to work through our prayers; in overwhelmingly difficult and seemingly impossible situations; according to His will and for His glory. He is the God who responds to the cries of His people.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will 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)
We are powerless when we are prayer-less. Anything we attempt to do in our lives without seeking God’s face in prayer (whether it be ministry or otherwise); is futile.
It was the habit of Jesus to spend time in prayer to His father. Jesus prayed when He was tempted; He prayed when He was tested; He prayed when He was crucified. He was dependant on the Father’s provision and perfect plan. How much more then, should frail; sinful; helpless; creatures like us, depend on the sovereign power of God, by praying to Him? God hears our prayers, when our wills are aligned to His.
Let us therefore labour in prayer for one another, for God’s church, and for all believers in Christ.
Please pray for us @north that:
· We would grow in depth and maturity in the Lord Jesus through committed prayer and consistent and faithful reading of God’s word.
· For new believers in Christ. That they may be discipled and grounded in the word and continue to remain steadfast in the Lord. That they may understand more and more the meaning and reality of putting God first in their lives.
· For those still seeking to understand the gospel and the truth of God’s word, that their hearts and minds may be enlightened by the Spirit and that they will be brought to conviction to confess Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
· For the International students, that they may continue to be willing to come to learn from the sermons and bible studies. That our interactions with them would be mutually encouraging and up-building.
· For families, that God would grant men in households the wisdom, discernment and strength, to be spiritual heads and to lead their families in godliness, grounded in the word of God.
· For new families and new comers, that they will feel welcomed into our family @north and anchor their “roots” with us
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