Today marks the National Day of Prayer. We invite you to join us for prayer throughout the day and our prayer service at 6 pm. in our historic sanctuary. This Sunday, we will also discuss prayer as we begin a sermon series on Nehemiah.
Did you know that many people in our nation have a daily habit of prayer? According to the Pew Research Center, 45% of Americans pray daily, while another 23% pray weekly or a few times a month. The percentage of those engaged in daily prayer is higher for Mormons (73%), evangelical Protestants (72%), and Muslim Americans (67%). Prayer is a common practice for many, but how does it differ for Christians?
Alec Ryrie noted, "Private prayer was the lifeblood of Protestant piety, the central love affair between God and the Believer.” Prayer enlivens faith; it is the breath of a spiritual life. Like a fish out of water, so is a Christian without prayer. Though there might be some psychological benefits of prayer, without praying in Jesus' name, the supplicant might as well pray to a tree. Jesus is the exact representation of God’s being; he is our friend, the lover of our soul, and the Lord of the universe. The question for followers of Christ is, how well do you know him? How much time do you spend with him?
I met with a group of pastors recently, and one Pastor mentioned that he reads through the whole book of Psalms every month. So, he reads 150 Psalms a month, 5 Psalms a day, and takes time to pray through them. I’m thinking yes, but you are missing out on the whole counsel of God. While I was thinking this, he added that he also reads through the Bible in one year. We all have different life circumstances and commitments, but I am challenged in what I am making time for.
Just as I need to get in shape and find ways to improve my physical fitness, I always need to reinvigorate my prayer life. As I age, my workouts will become stretching and walks, but I hope that as I age, my prayer life can deepen in ways my younger self could not imagine. We know God through his Word and speak his Word back to him through our prayers. As we meditate on his word, we are reminded of how good the Lord is and how much he desires us to commune with him.
Matthew 7:11 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
The Lord delights in hearing our prayer. Throughout history, many have experienced the joy of being in his presence. Ask him for the gift of experiencing what was said about the American philosopher and theologian Jonathan Edward’s sister, Jerusha Edwards. Her religious life began in childhood, and from that time, meditation, prayer, and reading the sacred scriptures were not a prescribed task but a coveted enjoyment. Covet your time with the Lord.
