Why is prayer so very important? When we learn that a friend or loved one is experiencing a time of adversity, “I’ll be praying for you,” are often the first words we think to say. We long to comfort, to empathize. But what are we really saying? Are we simply offering “good thoughts” or are we PLEDGING (promising) TO TAKE THESE WORRIES AND CONCERNS before our Heavenly Father? Is there a difference? And if so, WHY IS PRAYER IMPORTANT?
Prayer aligns our hearts with our Abba Father and can become a treasured time of personal worship. Do we long to know the mind and heart of God? The key is to be still before Him “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) and to linger in His presence. The Bible teaches that we are to lay our cares and worries before Him with prayers and petitions “Don’t worry about anything. Instead, TELL GOD ABOUT EVERYTHING. Ask and pray. Give thanks to Him. Then GOD’S PEACE will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7), and God’s peace will sustain and guard our troubled spirits.
Jesus said (three times), “And when you pray…” (Matthew 6:5) “But you, when you pray…” (Matthew 6:6) “And when you pray…” (Matthew 6:7) “Call to Me, and I WILL ANSWER YOU, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
This is what God said to Moses, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with ALL your HEART, SOUL and MIGHT…these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall TEACH THEM diligently to your children and shall TALK of them when you SIT in your house, when you WALK by the way, when you LIE DOWN, and when you RISE UP. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
We must be mindful of where we are on God’s timetable, Jesus says when Israel becomes a nation once again, which happened May 14th, 1948, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means PASS AWAY till ALL THESE THINGS take place.” (Matthew 24:34)
Your Personal Pastor -Bil Stockham