Jesus said, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” St. Mark 13:33 (KJV)
I grew up at the knee of a praying mother. She prayed so regularly that her neighbors could set their clocks by her praying. She prayed so long that they were inspired. The point is that she prayed. Many 20th century Christians were prayer warriors. Where are the Sunday afternoon prayer groups, out in the woods sending petitions heavenward? Where are the testimonies of sinners who were convicted of sin after hearing an old prayer warrior’s conversation with God? Where are the believers gathering together to pray until God hears and answers?
What is this eerie silence beginning to settle over our land? Is that laughter we hear coming from the pit? Who are these people around us that have no concern for eternal things? What am I doing about it?
Certainly, some of us are still ringing the prayer bells of heaven. Perhaps we need to be encouraged. Perhaps we need to renew our commitment. Remember, God has promised to hear and answer (2 Chronicles 7:14-16; St. John 14:13-14). Prayer is the vehicle for transporting the spirit of Sunday throughout the week. Let us be praying people. We ought to enter the prayer closet with the same reverence and responsibility with which we live our lives. Let us be prayer warriors. Let us remember that we are God’s agents in our families, in our workplace, and in our community.
Dear Father, thank you for your exhortation to pray. Thank you for this wonderful gift of communication. I know that you have heard me in the past and that you always hear me. Forgive me for the times I have failed to communicate with you. O, Lord, deliver me from excuses and hindrances. I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for the gift of prayer and live for him as payer warriors,
Pastor Smith