When You Pray

Not "if" but "when."

Isn't prayer one of God's greatest blessings to His children?

In Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Marley's ghost laments his inability to intervene for the good in the affairs of men.

We have that ability, we believers, because Jesus lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).

We have that duty, especially toward our brothers and sisters in Christ (Ephesians 6:18).

More that this, we have the desire, our hearts being broken for the lost (Romans 9:1-3).

This burden to witness is part of Christ's commission to His Church (Matthew 28:19-20), each of us as individuals as well as the corporate community of believers.

We are called to the harvest, not only as workers, but to pray God to send more workers (Luke 10:2).

Spurgeon referred to the faithful prayer warriors of his congregation as the steam engine that powered his flock. They prayed every Sunday as he preached, calling down the power of the Holy Spirit and many were saved.

Do you have such a group in your church? Will you work to start one, no matter when it meets?

When you pray, pray for the saints of God, as they struggle to walk in holiness.

When you pray, lift up your pastor and the other leaders in your church that they may stand in the strength of God's Word.

When you pray, remember the sick, the afflicted and the spiritually burdened among you.

When you pray, thank the God of our salvation, for He hears and answers prayers.