Mankind was fashioned to pray

 What happened when man pray?

He “shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)

One of the most amazing things in all the Scriptures is how much time Jesus spent in prayer. He had only three years of public ministry, yet Jesus was never too hurried to spend hours in prayer. He prayed before every difficult task confronting Him. He prayed with regularity—not a day began or closed on which He did not unfold His soul before His Father. How quickly and carelessly, by contrast, we pray. Snatches of memorized verses are hastily spoken in the morning; then we say good-bye to God for the rest of the day until we rush through a few closing petitions at night. This is not the prayer program that Jesus outlined. Jesus pleaded long and repeatedly. It is recorded that He spent entire nights in fervent appeal. 

I predict that unless the leaders of nations turn to God in prayer, their best plans will fail, just as did the plans of those who built the Tower of Babel. There are thousands of people who say prayers only in times of great stress, danger, or uncertainty. I have flown through bad storms, when all around me people who never before thought to pray were praying. It is instinctive for men and women to pray in a time of trouble. 

PRAYER IS EFFECTIVE

From one end of the Bible to the other, there is the record of those whose prayers have been answered—men and women who turned the tide of history by prayer; men and women who fervently prayed, and God answered. Hezekiah prayed when his city was threatened by the invading army of the Assyrians under the leadership of Sennacherib, and the entire army of Sennacherib was destroyed and the nation was spared for another generation—because the king prayed (see 2 Chronicles 32). 

The problems of the world will never be settled unless our national leaders go to God in prayer. If only they would discover the power and wisdom that there is in reliance upon God, we could soon see the solution to the grave problems that face the world. 

Elijah prayed, and God sent fire from Heaven to consume the offering on the altar he had built in the presence of God’s enemies. Elisha prayed, and the son of the Shunammite woman was raised from the dead. Daniel prayed, and the secret of God was made known to him for the saving of his and his companions’ lives and the changing of the course of history. Jesus prayed at the door of the tomb of Lazarus, and the one who had been dead for four days came forth. The thief prayed, and Jesus assured him that on that same day he would be with Him in Paradise. Paul prayed, and hundreds of churches were born in Asia Minor and Europe. Peter prayed, and Dorcas was raised to life, to have added years of service for Jesus Christ. 

PRAY THIS WEEK

* Lord Jesus teach me how to pray

* Holy Spirit influence my prayer life today