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Of the various disciplines related to following Jesus Christ, I have always found prayer to be among the most difficult. Lack of faith, busyness, laziness, and confusion have been some of the factors that have increased my struggle with prayerlessness. The following story that I came across some time ago serves as a point of conviction to me in the matter of prayer.
Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, "Brother, the grass grows on your path."
In my own walk with Christ, I have unfortunately discovered that too often the grass has grown thickly on my path. However, over the course of the past three weeks I have discovered new vigor in this practice. As our church has journeyed together through the 21 Days of Prayer, my own path to prayer has become well worn. I have heard stories from many of you in which the same experience has been shared. Countless people have shared with me that their own times of Bible reading and prayer have become more focused over the last several days. Our church has seen several make professions of faith and move to join in membership. More than one person has told me that friends and co-workers who are not even attending our church expressed interest in participating in this prayer journey. One individual even shared with me that God was specifically calling him to sell 21 items of value among his possessions, and then give the proceeds toward the work of the Kingdom! It truly is amazing how this simple yet profound spiritual discipline can make such an impact upon our church and beyond. It is certainly no coincidence. When God commands and invites His people into fellowship with Him through prayer, it is because He has provided the means for communication with Him through the sacrifice of Christ. When the people of God humbly seek Him, God hears…and God responds!
These past 21 days have been exciting, but they are only a foretaste to what God wants to do in our church. Prayer is certainly not a means to getting God to give us what we desire, nor is it simply a box of “to do’s” which God lists among many other Christian responsibilities. Quite simply, praying in the manner which the Bible instructs is to know God, love God, and glorify God. Famed missionary Amy Carmichael stated it well: God always answers us in the deeps, never in the shallows of our soul. As we have heard Him speaking in the deeps over the past several weeks, let us move on in this practice. I invite you to join me in committing this next year to read the Bible and pray as never before. The church’s website provides several plans for Bible reading and information about prayer and fasting. I encourage you to utilize this in your personal walk with Christ.
As a bonus in my own experience, I have found that though my times of prayer have not come easily, I have always walked away with a sense of awe in God and peace about my circumstances. As Martin Luther is famously quoted with saying, Pray, and let God worry. Amen!
Letting God worry,
Jason