PRAYER, NOT JUST FOR THE ELITE

When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My 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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place (2 Chronicles 7:13-15 New King James Version).

Let’s take a look around at the world we live in. We don’t have to watch national news to know cities we live in have some type of pestilence – whether it is violence, drugs, poverty or abuse. No matter what it is, it is a pestilence, and God is crying out for our attention. He is calling His saints to pray, and yet some of us won’t answer His call. Too many of us are content to let others pray for on our behalf, then there are others who leave prayer for Sunday morning, and more who are “too busy” to pray. Some of us feel our prayers will not make a difference and some who feel we must have a special gift to pray, with long and eloquent prayers.

Snap out of it! God is seeking humble, prayerful people. He is drawing His Church to Himself. 1 Peter 2: 9-10 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” What does this mean? That we ALL are called to pray, not just pastors, leaders, elders or deacons. Not just our church’s prayer ministry, small group leaders, or a select group of individuals.

There is power in prayer and we are strongest when we seek His face. God desires we all come before Him with humble hearts, honesty and confession of our own personal sins. He is seeking time with us, He is longing for us to ask Him for help. It’s time to drive back the pestilences that we face, whether personal or not. It’s time to gear up by putting on the armor He has provided us, sharpen our swords and dig our heels in. It’s time to open our hearts, our eyes and our ears, becoming sober, vigilant and watchful. Time is running out, Jesus is coming. Are you ready?

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us Your heart today. Thank You for blessing us with another morning in which to praise, honor and worship You. Thank You for the opportunity to come before You in prayer, and for listening to us. No prayer that we bring before You is too small, and no sin we confess is too great. Thank You for loving us so much that You desire to hear our prayers. Forgive us for not seeking Your face enough, forgive us for not humbling ourselves to ask for Your help. It truly is a privilege to come into Your courts and stand in Your presence and to know that You are there. We ask for Your help in breaking down barriers that some face when it comes to prayer. We ask for Your touch in reaching those who feel as though prayer doesn’t work. Father, we ask for a spirit of prayer and watchfulness to grip Your people. We ask for a move of Your Holy Spirit in bringing Your people together to seek Your face. We have victory in You and we ask that we wear our armor proudly as Your children, warriors and saints. We ask that Your Word take root within our hearts and that we wield this sword that is Your word in a manner worthy of You as we are called by Your name. Seek out and reveal those areas of our lives that are not clean, seek out and remove those hidden agendas, help us to examine ourselves and lay all we carry before Your feet. Unite us as one, Lord, and give us the words to pray when we feel we have no words. We give this day and all that is in it to You. We bless Your name and give You thanks. In Jesus mighty name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s Attitude of Worship: You can pray anywhere, any way, in any posture. Prayer is really just a conversation with God; you tell Him what’s on your heart and He will tell you what’s on His. Go ahead, chat with Him while you’re driving, cleaning house, working, eating, exercising or whatever it is you do.

Additional Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7; James 5:16-18; 1 Timothy 2:1-4

The neglect of prayer is a grand hindrance to holiness. ~John Wesley