I would like to thank the organizers for having me here today, it is a real honor and privilege to be here with you this afternoon.
Today a very considerable number of people who would profess themselves to be Christians do not find much meaning in prayer. I believe that is because they don’t understand what prayer is.
Today on the National Day of Prayer we turn our national attention toward prayer.
Prayer is at the heart of Christian discipleship.
Prayer is not an attempt to change the world after our own desires, but it is communion with God to seek his will. Our prayers, each and every one, are heard by an ever living and loving God.
There are a lot of questions surrounding prayer.
Is there an acceptable or best prayer style? That is, do you have to get emotional, or do you need to be formal? Can you laugh, or Cry, or Moan or Be loud or must you Be quiet? Do you have to be serious or can you be light hearted? Should we pray aloud or silently?
Is there a best or required time of day to pray? Is there a certain position to get into when praying, should we kneel or sit or stand?
How long do we have to pray for us to come to God and to be in his presence?
All those questions have to do with style and I don’t believe Prayer style is important.
Prayer is communication, it’s a dialog and part of your personal relationship and walk with God. In a similar way that you would talk differently to different people in your life so too prayer to your Father God can and should be intimate and personal.
The Lord wants you to pray, he wants you to bring him your highlights and your lowlights, he wants to be part of your life.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and 18 We are told to “Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
The Lord wants us to bring it all to Him, he wants us to make Him a part of every bit of our lives and our prayer life is how we do that.
I once heard a story about the Evangelist Billy Graham, after a long day at one of his famous Crusades a few people who had just met him were gathered there, and as they were about to leave the backstage area Dr. Graham paused to pray. Now you would think that Dr. Graham must be a powerful prayer warrior and that his prayers would be very grand and elaborate. They paused and waited thinking that they would get to hear Dr Graham pray. His prayer went like this: “Lord, Where’s my hat?Amen”
I’ve often thought about that story in relation to my prayer life. That someone like Dr. Graham, who has done so many big things in the service of God would have a relationship with him that he knew that even asking God where his misplaced hat might be was not outside the relationship he had with the father.
I want that kind of relationship with My heavenly father. The kind of relationship where I can bring him anything, big or small. Where I can tell him what I’m happy about or angry about.
You see, nothing is too big or small for Him because when you are his and have a relationship with him he wants it all.
He wants to hear from you today. He wants to know you and he wants to be in your life.
Here’s what the bible says about prayer, think about these bible verses and how they might fit into where you are today:
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. --Romans 12:12 This is how He wants us to live.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 He wants you to turn your worries over to Him and present your requests to him.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. --Colossians 4:2 He wants you to keep praying.
Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do." --Jeremiah 42:3 He wants you to ask for His guidance in your life.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. --Romans 8:26 Sometimes we’re so frustrated in our lives we don’t even know what to say but He already knows and the Holy Spirit goes before the father for us.
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 He wants us to pray for others, friend and foe so that He can be glorified. AND He says- that the prayer of a righteous man is POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE- in that statement He is telling us that He’s listening and that your prayers are important to Him.
So pray today my friends, if you’ve never prayed or haven’t prayed in a long time it’s easy to get started, start by telling God that you want to start talking again and then tell him what’s on your mind. Ask Him to forgive you for the things you’ve done and then ask Him to be part of your life every day. He’s waiting for you. In the Book of Revelation in the Bible, Chapter 3 Verse 20- Our Lord God himself says “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
Prayer opens that door.
Occasionally I hear or read something that is so right on target that I feel I need to share it. The last time Chuck Colson was this "right on the money" was his tribute to Charlton Heston ( I posted it 4-10-08 on this blog).
This commentary on Black Liberation Theology, By Chuck Colson, is one of those cases. I have heard drips and drabs about BLT but haven't heard a cogent, concise, biblical world view version on the subject.
This is one of Chuck Colson's daily breakpoint commentaries syndicated on radio, coast to coast.
Click on the link below to hear or read this commentary:
http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=783
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