The Most Underrated Spiritual Discipline
Stephen Altrogge
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We all know that we’re supposed to pray. We all have our own prayer
“tactics,” such as prayer lists, prayer apps, prayer walks, prayer
meetings, praying out loud, writing down our prayers, writing down the
prayers we say out loud, and saying out loud prayers which have been
written down.
In spite of all these tactics, I believe prayer is THE MOST underrated
spiritual discipline. The simple fact is, I take prayer for granted.
Because Christ has opened the way into the Holy Places, I can pray
freely at any time of day. I can pray in the car, as I’m working, and
while I’m watching my kids. Being able to pray so freely is an
incredible, wonderful blessing. I think, however, that the freeness with
which I can pray causes me to take prayer for granted.
Think for a moment of all that takes place when I pray.
GOD HEARS
But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. (Psalm 4:3)
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. (Psalm 5:3)
Holy smokes! When I pray, the Lord himself, Yahweh, the King of Kings,
the commander of the armies of Heaven, hears me! The God who crushed the
Egyptian army and humiliated the prophets of Baal, hears when I call to
him. I’m not speaking empty words into a void. I’m not simply talking
to myself. This is not the power of positive speaking. When I call, God
hears.
GOD STRENGTHENS
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart;
you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the
oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. (Psalm 10:17–18)
Not only does God hear me when I pray, but he also strengthens me. In
the midst of affliction, when I barely have the strength to call out to
God, he hears me and strengthens me. He imparts real spiritual,
emotional, and even physical strength to me. Prayer connects me to the
infinite strength of God.
GOD BLESSES
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! (Matthew 7:11)
God is eager to bless me. Just as I am eager to give good gifts to my
kids, God is eager to give good gifts to me. When I pray, God unleashes
blessings into my life. I realize that sounds terribly Joel Osteen-ish,
but it’s not. It’s God’s word. God will give me good things when I pray
to him. He will bless me and pour out his incredible riches into my
life.
GOD ACTS
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that
it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on
the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth
bore its fruit. (>James 5:16–18)
This passage is mean to encourage us that God does real, incredible
things in response to my prayers. When Elijah prayed, God actually
altered weather patterns! When I pray, God does real, amazing,
incredible things. He changes circumstances. He softens hearts. He
intervenes with financial provision. He brings reconciliation. Prayer
brings the Almighty God into the mundane details of my life.
Given all the astonishing things that happen when I pray, why do I treat prayer so lightly? |
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