Imagine a world with no communication. No phones. No e-mail. Not even our voices. Now take away all meaning from nonverbal communication. What does that leave? A world of darkness. Everyone living for only themselves. No relationships. No companies. Not even a building that takes more than one man or woman to create. Ask yourself if this is the kind of Christian world you live in. Do you speak to God daily? Weekly? Monthly? Reading the Word is important. We learn from God, but God wants to hear our voices.
Jesus taught his disciplines to pray. He felt prayer was important enough to give them step-by-step instructions (Luke 11:1-4). He prayed himself. Hebrews 5:7 states, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." He prayed to all night before choosing his apostles (Luke 6:12,13). When was the last time you prayed all night before making a decision?? Jesus prayed when he was distressed (Mark 14:32-41). James 4:13 commands us to do the same: "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray..." Jesus prayed for his disciples. In fact, Jesus prayed for you and me (John 17)! That's so exciting!!! We should also pray for one another. 1 Timothy 2:1 states, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—"
Prayer is an important and powerful tool. For one, it is the strongest medicine you'll ever run across. James 5:14-15 states, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." We hear about these miracles a lot. A person with cancer is suddenly cancer free. A man gets his neck sliced with a barbed-wire fence yet the cut misses both his main artery and jugular. A woman gets shot in the head but lives. Some doctors might chuck it up to their mad doctor skills but we all know who the real Physician is... The actual healing power came from the Most High through the prayers of saints on their knees.
Talking with and petitioning to God is one of the most important activities we can do as Christians, yet we often ignore God for days, weeks, months... This cannot continue! We need to accomplish the opposite scenario.
1 Thes. 5:17--"Never stop praying."
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