by Justin Mui - Evangelism Deacon
If my people who are called by my name 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.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Prayer is our communication to God. Prayer to God is toll-free, stronger than 5G LTE and can be spoken, written or thought in any language. It transcends time, space and is reliably received and read by the recipient Himself. Jesus, who is God incarnated as a person was even recorded praying in solitude. The universe is full of phenomena that could entertain God. God could be checking both sides of a black hole’s event horizon, watching a supernova burst or setting off a meteor shower. However, God is mindful of people, and actually has us at the forefront of His attention. Yet in spite of God’s undivided attention towards us, the church chooses to neglect prayer. This is a trend that must change which deeply affects 3Stone and a multitude of other Western churches. It is with firm conviction that in our turbulent year 3Stone should embrace the power of prayer.
First and foremost, when uncertainty rises, it is imperative that we turn to constant, truthful instruments to find our bearings and internally reconcile hope. When sailors traverse the North Pole, there is a gyrocompass on the ship that displays True North without being affected by wayward magnetic interference. Likewise, the triune God and the Bible serve as the eternally reliable instruments. In order to better appreciate the power of prayer, we must uncover God’s intended purpose, frequency and usage of prayer. The intent of uncovering the framework of prayer is not to create a magical chant for answered requests. Instead, it is to better show how we can find fulfillment and cause change as people of prayer.
God’s intended purpose of prayer is multifaceted. The topic of prayer has been covered by a multitude of excellent sermons, books and articles. An article from Focus on the Family is included to provide a concise introduction towards the Biblical evidence for prayer. Although God is almighty and all-knowing, He still commands us to pray. When we pray, we invite God to remove the hindrances in our hearts and allow Him to work in us and outside of us. God makes prayer a part of His plan. The more we pray, the more we surrender our issues for Him to handle.
Prayer is to be done frequently. It is commanded that we give thanksgiving all the time. Even in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul asks the Thessalonian church to pray continually. Is this a command for us to drop everything and switch to non-stop prayer? No! The call to pray continually means that while we are still doing our everyday tasks, we have a prayerful mindset. A prayerful mindset is surrendered to God. Every moment and challenge we encounter will eagerly be submitted to God. The more we submit these challenges to God, the burdensome results rest on Him and a heart of thankfulness abounds.
Prayer serves as an instrument of change for believers. When we pray, we invite God to intercede in our challenges for the world outside and the personal character within. Personal character change is an unpleasant process of refining God’s children from believers to disciples. As outlined in James 1, trials and temptations are given by God to help refine our character in cultivating maturity and perseverance. The trials and temptation reveal the frailty of human efforts and demonstrate the unshakeable nature of God. In humility, proper instruction is received and personal preference is given towards serving God and others. Jesus demands obedience to tough commands like loving enemies and praying for persecutors (Matthew 5:44). The instructions given from the Sermon on the Mount or the Epistles do not come naturally to believers. Thus, the crucible of brokenness and submissive prayers will allow disciples in the church to reflect His peace and love with resolve beyond normal human thresholds.
Beloved church, the enemy uses the issues from current events to sow division. While honest dialogue is necessary to help refine the church, it is of utmost importance to preface, inundate and conclude messages in truth and grace. If our messages are not rooted in love or care for other brothers and sisters, then we are an ensemble of clanging gongs. As we interact and react to events in the country and around the world, let us remember the immovable sovereignty of God. Turn our eyes to Jesus, pray for our enemies and pray for leaders of all stripes. The most reviled of people still bear the image of God. In this season, pray for our authorities as outlined in Romans 13:1. Wish them well. And if you’re not quite ready yet to express that love and forgiveness, that’s alright. Pray to God for extra strength and He will give it abundantly! The invitation to pray together is open. Cherished church, will we accept it?
1 . Velarde, Robert. “Prayer Has Its Reasons.” Focus on the Family, 23 June 2020, www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/prayer-has-its-reasons/.