Prayer
I'm thinking that maybe we could be getting too comfortable with the group's status - you know, just happy turning up, or just happy to write/receive mails. A shake-up required to get us to the next level? Let's see. And more importantly, let's pray!
This anecdote has done the rounds before - see if you know it:
A night club was being prepared for opening night in a small town. For months, the local church gathered to pray against the bad influence that the night club could bring to the neighbourhood. They made no secret of their campaign to the rest of the town and the night club owner Mr Smith. On the night before opening, a terrible storm came up and lightning struck the night club building, razing it to the ground.
Mr Smith promptly sued the church members for the damage. In court, the church members vigorously denied liability. In his final judgment, the judge stated, "Whatever the findings of this court, one thing is clear - and that is that the party who really believes in the power of prayer is Mr Smith and not the church!"
How much do we trust in prayer? How do we know the answer to this question? Answer the next question. Are we praying regularly and earnestly? Because faith is almost always evidenced by action.
Eph 6:18 says "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Why is prayer so important? Because we can be sure that the devil mocks our prayerless works. He sneers at our prayerless wisdom. He laughs at our prayerless relationships.
So on a practical level, what are some things we can do to improve our prayer life? I think the answer is simply, as Nike famously says, to just do it. I remember in University I encountered the power of prioritizing prayer. I was a very young believer and I attended a Bible camp. In every single event, the group would stop to pray. After getting up. Before eating. Before starting bible study. After finishing study. Before playing ice-breakers. After ice breakers. Before leaving the camp for out of camp activity. Upon returning. Before and after every single discussion. It was incredible. And because there was so much prayer, I could literally feel saturated with the presence of God.
I really think that that experience encapsulates Eph 6:18. Pray on ALL occasions, with ALL kinds of prayers and requests... ALWAYS keep on praying for ALL the saints.
There is an interesting book on the subject as well which you may have heard of - it is called Practising the Presence of God. The book is written in a slightly archaic fashion because it concerns the real life of a 17th Century monk who was a cook in a monastery. Although he led a very mundane life, he practised the presence of God in everything he did - big or small. I really enjoyed reading it and I think you might too :)
The book is available at http://www.practicegodspresence.com/.
But we may be wondering - how can it be possible to pray about everything? So here are some ideas:
Pray in partnership/agreement - Matt 18 says "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Praying in agreement encourages the relevant counterparties (haha so SGX) and better yet, contains God's promise of power! Try it - it's great :)
Pray against strongholds - 2 Cor 10:3-5 says "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Praying against strongholds breaks down the walls our own sins or the devil has placed between us and a victorious Christian life. Think there's no way you can pray? Pray against that!! :)
Pray in intercession - 1 Tim 2:1-4 says "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for EVERYONE — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." Intercede for everyone, especially persons in authority - our pastors and church leaders, the government (local and international), our bosses and regulators (haha). Intercede also for our family and friends that "all men" may be "saved and come to a knowledge of the truth".
Don't you think there's lots of things to pray for? So friends, be alert and keep on praying - be as the persistent widow in Matt 18. Keep on knocking! Will not our loving God answer?
Want to see a miracle in your life this year? Pray. Otherwise when it happens - we may just miss it, and that would really be a tragedy. Has the miracle happened already? Then pray in thanksgiving :)
This anecdote has done the rounds before - see if you know it:
A night club was being prepared for opening night in a small town. For months, the local church gathered to pray against the bad influence that the night club could bring to the neighbourhood. They made no secret of their campaign to the rest of the town and the night club owner Mr Smith. On the night before opening, a terrible storm came up and lightning struck the night club building, razing it to the ground.
Mr Smith promptly sued the church members for the damage. In court, the church members vigorously denied liability. In his final judgment, the judge stated, "Whatever the findings of this court, one thing is clear - and that is that the party who really believes in the power of prayer is Mr Smith and not the church!"
How much do we trust in prayer? How do we know the answer to this question? Answer the next question. Are we praying regularly and earnestly? Because faith is almost always evidenced by action.
Eph 6:18 says "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Why is prayer so important? Because we can be sure that the devil mocks our prayerless works. He sneers at our prayerless wisdom. He laughs at our prayerless relationships.
So on a practical level, what are some things we can do to improve our prayer life? I think the answer is simply, as Nike famously says, to just do it. I remember in University I encountered the power of prioritizing prayer. I was a very young believer and I attended a Bible camp. In every single event, the group would stop to pray. After getting up. Before eating. Before starting bible study. After finishing study. Before playing ice-breakers. After ice breakers. Before leaving the camp for out of camp activity. Upon returning. Before and after every single discussion. It was incredible. And because there was so much prayer, I could literally feel saturated with the presence of God.
I really think that that experience encapsulates Eph 6:18. Pray on ALL occasions, with ALL kinds of prayers and requests... ALWAYS keep on praying for ALL the saints.
There is an interesting book on the subject as well which you may have heard of - it is called Practising the Presence of God. The book is written in a slightly archaic fashion because it concerns the real life of a 17th Century monk who was a cook in a monastery. Although he led a very mundane life, he practised the presence of God in everything he did - big or small. I really enjoyed reading it and I think you might too :)
The book is available at http://www.practicegodspresence.com/.
But we may be wondering - how can it be possible to pray about everything? So here are some ideas:
Pray in partnership/agreement - Matt 18 says "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Praying in agreement encourages the relevant counterparties (haha so SGX) and better yet, contains God's promise of power! Try it - it's great :)
Pray against strongholds - 2 Cor 10:3-5 says "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Praying against strongholds breaks down the walls our own sins or the devil has placed between us and a victorious Christian life. Think there's no way you can pray? Pray against that!! :)
Pray in intercession - 1 Tim 2:1-4 says "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for EVERYONE — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." Intercede for everyone, especially persons in authority - our pastors and church leaders, the government (local and international), our bosses and regulators (haha). Intercede also for our family and friends that "all men" may be "saved and come to a knowledge of the truth".
Don't you think there's lots of things to pray for? So friends, be alert and keep on praying - be as the persistent widow in Matt 18. Keep on knocking! Will not our loving God answer?
Want to see a miracle in your life this year? Pray. Otherwise when it happens - we may just miss it, and that would really be a tragedy. Has the miracle happened already? Then pray in thanksgiving :)
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