Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’” NASB

Let us continue our journey into understanding the misconceptions, the dynamics, and the importance of Prayer!

PRAYER IS MORE THAN A COMMITMENT IT IS A COMMAND….

We take immense pride here in America that we are Free!  We live in a society based on a Republican Democracy and revel in our Independence. That is great in helping the individual develop a sense of worth and significance. Still, it can also weaken our understanding of the force, power, and importance of authority. 

We must realize that the Bible is not a book of ‘suggestions.’ It is God’s Word!  In that light, prayer is not an ‘option.’ It is vital to life itself spiritually.  The word pray occurs 250 times, and the word praying 280 times, so that sounds pretty important to me!

However, when you say it is a ‘command,’ that seems to produce resistance in many hearts.  The command to pray is not to discipline us but because prayer is vital for our Spiritual Life!  How often do we need to pray?  How often do we need to breathe or eat?  How much time does establishing and developing a sound, wholesome relationship require?  That is how much we need to pray!

GENUINE PRAYER IS A CHALLENGE…

Remember the words of our text in Jeremiah 33 – God says Call.   That is our responsibility.  He then promises, “I will answer you.”  Then He adds, “I will show you great and mighty things, which you did not and do not know.”  

Therefore, it is simple – If we do not pray, we will miss many, if not most, of God’s answers and revelations!  No communication with God results in no revelations from God!

Life is a challenge!  We face one challenge after another as we wind our way through the maze called Life!  Through prayer, we can work our way through it with much greater ease and effectiveness.  The Church does not need more programs. It needs more, Jesus!  We might want to turn our ‘supper rooms’ into ‘upper rooms.’

PRAYER IS MORE THAN A COMMITMENT, COMMAND, AND CHALLENGE; IT IS ALSO A CATHARSIS….

1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

That directive is a channel through which we can remove the negative emotions of anxiety, fear, and anger from our lives.  Prayer releases the overload of stress and pressure and casts them at the feet of our LORD!  It transfers the weight of life and living from the weak to the strong!  It is therapeutic, unlocks the inner man, and allows us to draw from God’s strength, wisdom, and might!  Prayer is a preventative from Burnout! 

Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Prayer is the key to survival and victory!  It is our channel of communication with God Himself.  God meets with us in ascending levels of communication, where each level meets a great need in our lives.  Each level moves us into a higher realm in the Spirit.  Each level opens to us a greater degree of God’s presence.  Each level gives us a complete revelation of His Person and Nature.

Remember you have an Invitation to come before Him Anytime for Anything, and He is ready to Hear and Respond to you.

May God bless you as you go through your day!