Does Your Everyday Life Even Have a Prayer?

"When all else fails, pray.” We’ve probably all heard someone say that at one time or another. We might have said it ourselves when it seemed like everything we’ve tried to do hasn’t worked. That’s one reason it’s said there are no atheists in foxholes. Bombs falling overhead and bullets zipping past can definitely foster feelings of helplessness.

 

But this “last resort” attitude toward prayer isn’t limited to dangerous, near-death situations. It applies to everyday circumstances as well. Making major decisions like buying and selling houses. Deciding whether to trade in Old Reliable SUV for a new one. Evaluating job and career options. We tend to explore every possible option until we finally hit a wall, at a loss as to what we should do. Then – and only then – do we think maybe it would help to pray.

 

Ironically, this often happens even in churches and ministry situations. Whether it’s preparing a sermon, practicing worship music, planning youth activities, or organizing mission outreach programs, we plunge ahead with our ideas and plans. What does the Lord think about what we’re doing? Well, if necessary, we’ll pause and ask Him.

 

But as we study the Scriptures, we discover prayer should be treated as the first resort, not the last. Adam and Eve didn’t pray about whether to sample the forbidden fruit – and we know what happened as a result. Throughout the Old Testament, the patriarchs and prophets all understood the importance of prayer. Many times they learned this initially by failing to pray and then having to deal with the consequences.

 

We have no better example of the power of prayer than the prophet Elijah, who was remembered by the apostle James. “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops” (James 5:17-18).

 

Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry made prayer a top priority from the onset. After having performed many miracles, He chose to spend time alone in prayer, seeking direction and the strength He needed for the days ahead. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed” (Mark 1:35).

 

At that time, however, Jesus’ disciples didn’t get it. With so much to do, so many people with whom to minister, they might have been wondering why He was “wasting time” praying. “Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed, ‘Everyone is looking for you!’” (Mark 1:36-37). In essence, “We don’t have time to pray!”

 

But Jesus followed this practice repeatedly over the next three years. Just hours before His betrayal, Jesus did what He knew was the very best thing, as recounted in Matthew 26:36-44: He prayed. “Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray’…. Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed….” After checking on His disciples overcome with grief and exhaustion, Jesus did this twice more before Judas Iscariot arrived with the religious leaders and Roman officials to betray Him. 

 

Oswald Chambers, whose powerful devotional messages continue to minister to people all around the world more than 100 years after his death, made this observation: “Prayer does not prepare us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work.”

 

With no greater example of this than Jesus, the apostles Peter and John admonished that if we’re true followers of Christ we should do as He did: 

“…For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you would follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). 

“Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked” (1 John 2:6).

 

More times than I’d like to admit, I’ve charged ahead with whatever task or objective I felt I should be pursuing, including the ministry of the written word, without pausing first to pray and seek God’s guidance. Sometimes I may have figured I already knew what needed to be done and didn’t want to risk asking Him about it. What if the Lord had different ideas?

 

Then, after spinning my wheels and realizing what I was attempting to do wasn’t working after all, I’d stop to pray – also asking forgiveness for being so presumptuous. Time and again I’d be reminded of what the old TV sitcom used to assert: “Father Knows Best.”

 

Perhaps it would be helpful for us to post a sign on our desk at work, on the refrigerator, or even on the bathroom mirror to remind us: “Prayer doesn’t prepare us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work.” 

Prayer: That Powerful, Profound Mystery

“When all else fails, pray.” How many times have you heard someone say that? Perhaps you’ve thought it yourself at times. As if the primary purpose of prayer is like sending an ‘SOS’ to God, reserved for times of crisis and distress. 

The Scriptures teach that prayer isn’t to be treated as a fire alarm for use only when all other courses of action have been exhausted. Prayer, admittedly mysterious in some respects, serves as our means for uninterrupted communication with the God of creation, the One who declares, “Call on Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

 

Yes, we can – and should – use prayer to present urgent needs to the Lord. That’s what Jonah did after spending three days and nights inside a great fish: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and You listened to my cry” (Jonah 2:2). Similar pleas for help appear in the Psalms. But we do ourselves – and God – a great disservice by limiting prayer to crisis management.

 

Recently I found these comments in a devotional book by Charles H. Spurgeon, the great 19^th century British preacher: “Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian…. Prayer is an open door which none can shut…. Prayer is never out of season…[it] gains an audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the heat of noonday, and in the shades of evening…. Prayer is never futile. You may not always get what you ask, but you will always have your true needs supplied.”

 

This truth is expressed succinctly in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. It says we’re to “pray without ceasing,” while another translation expresses it in two words: “pray continually.”

 

Much is made of “the full armor of God” described by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10-17 – “belt of truth…breastplate of righteousness…feet fitted with the gospel of peace…shield of faith…helmet of salvation…sword of the Spirit.” However, the next verse points to perhaps the most powerful weapon of all. We’re told to “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.” 

 

Then Paul adds, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel…” (Ephesians 6:18-20).

 

I don’t know how many times I’ve been guilty of undervaluing prayer. Someone asks me to pray for them, and I promise I will, but then I forget. Or if I do pray, it’s more like a ritual than an act of sincere intercession. When the going gets tough, however, I suddenly remember how important prayer is.

 

I mentioned earlier that prayer is mysterious. We know from the Bible that prayer is an essential part of one’s relationship with God, but often it seems like one-way communication. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.” It doesn’t say that He will get right back with us. Sometimes what we get is only silence. ‘Is God listening? Does He even care?’

 

This is where faith comes in. When we pray, we can’t see God, make eye contact with Him. We don’t hear an audible response. His answers to our prayers often aren’t immediate – and may be different from what we expected. As Spurgeon noted, “You may not always get what you ask, but you will always have your true needs supplied.”

 

How, then, are we to pray? Years ago, a friend, Bob Foster, offered a simple acronym that can help us in shaping our prayers and not saving them for emergencies only. The acronym is ACTS:

A – Adoration. For all that He is and all that He has done, is doing and will do, God deserves our sincere and fervent praise.

C – Confession. Even if we are born again, “in Christ” as 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, sin remains a perpetual problem. Jesus Christ died on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins, but when we do sin we confess, acknowledging them and repenting to restore our healthy relationship with the Lord.

T – Thanksgiving. God is at work in our lives every day, often in ways we don’t even recognize. In prayer we express our gratitude for what we know He has done – and for the things we haven’t realized, at least not yet.

S – Supplication. This is where we present needs to the Lord – our own needs and concerns, as well as the needs of friends, family members, our communities, missionaries, people in distant lands, and whatever He brings to our minds.

 

As I write this, I’m convicted that my own prayer life isn’t what it should be. We’re busy people, easily distracted, focused on myriad important and urgent things that must be addressed. But it may be that prayer is the most important thing we can do – even today. Even right now.

Have You Noticed Who’s Praying for You?

How do you feel when someone says, “I’m praying for you”? I don’t know about you but hearing that encourages me greatly. (Unless it’s being said in a way that suggests, “God needs to straighten you out, buddy!”) I can use all the prayer support that I can get. 

 

In truth, every one of us needs as much prayer as we can get because we’re imperfect people going through life basically not knowing what we don’t know. Being the recipient of the prayers of others seems like kind of a safety net to protect ourselves from our own mistakes and misjudgments.

Maybe on the other side of eternity the Lord will reveal the people He impressed to pray for me over the years, possibly even some I never met. Perhaps somebody reading this is among them. If so, thank you so much. Because in many ways God has answered prayers that I never would have thought to pray. As Ephesians 3:20 states, “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

 

Yes, it’s a blessing and an honor to think that people are taking us to God’s “throne of grace” (Hebrew 4:16), offering petitions to Him on our behalf. I picture some folks retreating to their “war room,” the quiet place they’ve designated for prayer, with our names on their hearts – and their lips. What a humbling thought to have a prayer team interceding on our behalf.

 

But do you know what’s even better? The Bible tells us that the Lord Himself prays for us! Consider the following:

 

Toward the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus was talking to one of His disciples, fully aware that soon this impetuous, outspoken follower would be denying Him not once, or twice, but three times. The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

 

I imagine Simon – whom Jesus had renamed Peter – heard this with mixed feelings. How would you like to hear that Satan has asked for permission to sift you like wheat? On the other hand, it must have bolstered Peter’s spirits to know Jesus Himself was praying for him, specifically that his faith would not falter. That he wouldn’t end up as spiritual wreckage.

 

This isn’t an isolated promise made to one individual. In similar fashion, the Scriptures assure us the Lord serves as our intercessor. As Hebrews 7:24-25 declare, “because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” What an amazing assurance!

 

What about the other member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit? We can’t find a clearer statement than Romans 8:26, which says, “In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” 

 

Have you ever experienced a time – or times – when your circumstances seemed so overwhelming you struggled with praying? We’re never instructed not to pray – for ourselves or others. But when uncertainties, anxieties, even fears assail us, seeming so great that we’re at a loss trying to figure out what to ask God for, how good it is to know that “the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

 

If you find yourself at a crossroads, faced with a major decision, or confronting a crisis that seems to have no solution, take heart. God hears your prayers. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). But also know that others are praying for you, whether they’re aware of your particular situation or not.

 

Beyond that, also be assured that the Lord Himself has you on His prayer list, poised to intercede for you in ways you can’t imagine.

 

And if you’re enjoying a relatively calm period in your life, with no major concerns, that’s great. But the next challenge could be right around the corner. When times like that arrive, we can know that along with our own prayers, the Lord has assembled a very special prayer team for us.

Now Is Not the Time to Stop Praying

Election Day is over. That means, mercifully, annoying political TV ads have ceased, mailboxes are no longer overflowing with promotional flyers touting this candidate or that, and phone calls and texts generated by many campaigns no longer plague us.

 

In some quarters there’s been great celebration and rejoicing, while elsewhere there’s been grumbling and gnashing of teeth. Prior to the election, some celebrities boldly declared if their candidate did not win, they’d be leaving the country. No word on whether they’ve obtained their plane tickets yet.

 

Days before the election there was a call for prayer, asking God to guide the outcome. Millions of men and women answered that call. Many of them were pleased with how they believe the Lord responded, but others were not. Either way, since then the sun has continued to rise and set. Soon thoughts will shift to more immediate matters, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

But before moving on, let’s revisit this matter of prayer and its role regarding what transpires in the public square. For some of us, prayer is an activity we undertake only in times of crisis and distress. Hence the eagerness of many to engage in praying for the outcome of the recent election. But God never intended for prayer to be a tool for crisis management.

 

We’re told in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (the first Bible verse I ever learned) to, “pray without ceasing.” As another translation expresses it, “pray continually.” To pray we don’t need to retreat to a special place, or to assume a specific posture. We can do it in the car (with eyes open), during a business meeting (no need to fold hands), in the midst of a conversation, or while cleaning a bathroom. Even in the middle of the night if we awaken and God brings someone or something to mind.

 

Too rarely do many of us remember the admonition of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “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.” 

 

Years ago, I had a good friend who said he was praying every day not only for family members, friends and people he knew, but also – by name – for the leaders of the then-Soviet Union. I probably scratched my head then, wondering why we should pray for atheistic, Communist authorities. But my friend prayed – and on Nov. 9, 1989, the Berlin wall fell. Not long afterward, the U.S.S.R. collapsed. 

 

Did this all occur because of my friend’s faithful prayers? I suspect he was just one of many whom God had impressed to pray in such a way. He understood clearly the biblical instruction that “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1).

 

Which brings us back to the current state of our nation and its impending transition of power. Whether we appreciated the outcome of the election or not, there’s no better time than now to commit to faithfully praying for “all those in authority,” that God would direct their deliberations and decisions. 

 

My own prayers will include the request that steps will be taken to return the United States to being a nation that recognizes and honors the involvement of God in the affairs of humankind. Our U.S. currency still declares, “In God We Trust,” and the Pledge of Allegiance, whenever it’s recited, includes the words, “One Nation Under God.”

 

Psalm 33:12 declares, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance.” Some may disagree, but I believe one reason our country has prospered is because it was established with Judeo-Christian principles – drawn from the Scriptures – as its foundation. Can we expect His continued blessings if we as a society persist in drifting further and further from Him? 

 

In less than two years, our nation will be observing the 250^th anniversary of its founding – its semiquincentennial. (I’ve just added that word to my vocabulary.) This is a duration longer than many revered societies over the course of history have endured, so we’d hope to find the United States of America in a healthy place on July 4, 2026.

A good start toward that end would be a regular observance, as I’ve noted in the past, of the exhortation from 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

Anniversaries Are Among the Very Best of Celebrations

Anniversaries are fun, aren’t they? At least most of them. We can have a slew of them, depending on how celebratory we’re inclined to be. Birthdays are anniversaries of our birth. Couples celebrate their wedding anniversaries – for many, also their patience, understanding, and perseverance. If we like our job, we can commemorate the anniversary of our hiring. Entrepreneurs can mark the founding of their businesses.

 

Several members of our family celebrate adoption anniversaries, and I know many people who make it a point to annually celebrate the anniversary of their spiritual rebirth.

 

For me, Dec. 20 is an anniversary that signifies I’m still here to celebrate it. That day in 2006 was when I underwent open-heart surgery – four coronary artery bypasses and an ARR, which stands for Aortic Root Replacement. In other words, my entire ascending aorta was replaced after a serious aneurysm had been detected during a routine angiogram.

Open-heart surgery isn’t a phrase that’s in most people’s standard vocabulary, and it wasn’t in mine either until two weeks prior to undergoing the procedure. Having a stent or two put in to open clogged arteries is one thing; having your rib cage splayed open so a cardiothoracic surgeon can get to your heart directly is something quite different.

 

The aneurysm on my aorta was 6 centimeters, more than twice the normal, 2.5-centimeter size for the ascending aorta, so that wasn’t a good thing. Like a balloon inflated beyond its capacity, it could have dissected (burst) at any time. And meeting a surgeon who announces he will be performing the needed corrective surgery isn’t on anyone’s bucket list either. But that’s what I was facing 17 years ago. 

 

Lots of things began racing through my mind. Our youngest daughter was getting married the next spring. My first grandson was due to be born the following summer. And I wasn’t convinced I was finished doing what I’d hoped to accomplish over my lifetime. Like Woody Allen once said, “I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”

 

Since my condition wasn’t an emergency, the surgery was scheduled two weeks out. I had to undergo a couple of CT scans in the meantime so the medical team could get a literal picture of the situation. That gave me lots of time to think and pray and deal with a fair amount of anxiety.

 

As I had done during uncertain times in the past, I picked up my Bible and turned to the Psalms. I read several psalms and prayed a lot. I didn’t try bargaining, since I had faith God was in control, working out His plan for me and my family, whatever that happened to be. But I did admit to Him that I wouldn’t mind sticking around for those special events coming up in the next year.

 

On the second day after my diagnosis, I again opened the Psalms and started reading where I’d left off, Psalm 41. When I got to verse 3 the translation I was reading said, “I will raise him from his sickbed and heal him of his disease.” Wow! That verse might as well have been printed in neon lights. I hadn’t been seeking a specific “word from the Lord,” as some folks call it, but there it was, as if God were saying, “Don’t worry, my child. I’ve got this – it will be all right.”

 

Other translations express this verse in slightly different ways, but almost instantly I was experiencing “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,” as Philippians 4:7 promises those who trust in the Lord. Years later I came across a similar verse from another psalm, also written by King David. It read, “For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths of the grave” (Psalm 86:13).

 

Prayer is a funny thing. When things are going great, we might give prayer lip service – sometimes quite literally. But during difficult times prayer becomes indispensable, like a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean during a severe storm. In Philippians 4:6 we’re instructed, “in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Then the aforementioned “peace of God…will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

I know prayers are not demands that God is obligated to fulfill. He’s not, as a friend of mine once said, a “short-order cook.” But 17 years ago, the Lord guided me to the right hospital and the right surgeon at the right time, bringing me through that surgery so I could experience the gift of life many times over. It’s an anniversary I’ll always treasure.

Prayer: Not Only for Crisis Management

Players and coaches kneel in prayer for their injured teammate.

Last week sports fans across the nation hit their collective pause button as they watched emergency personnel frantically working on Damar Hamlin, an athlete seriously injured in an NFL game. Stunned commentators could only manage words like “scary” and “chilling” and “frightening” as they observed EMTs and physicians on the field attending to the stricken Buffalo Bills defensive back.

Most of the time in football when a player’s hurt, timeout is called, the telecast goes to commercial, and then the game comes back on and play resumes. The injured player has either walked off the field under his own power, been assisted by trainers or teammates, or taken by golf cart to the locker room for treatment. Not this time.

 

When any athlete at any level suffers injury, an ambulance isn’t expected to be driven onto the field. Especially not to remain for a prolonged time. So, the scene was at once surreal, chilling, and scary. Football players and coaches, engaged in a sport some regard as the modern equivalent of the ancient gladiators, weren’t looking mean and tough. Many were in tears, hugging and consoling one another, and kneeling in solemn and silent prayer for Hamlin.

 

This unaccustomed scene was distressing, and we do continue to pray for Hamlin’s recovery. In one respect, however, what we saw was also heartening. For the last few of years, football players and other pro athletes had taken part in the controversial “taking a knee” to protest perceived injustices in our country. This time, those kneeling weren’t protesting – they were praying.

 

There’s something about major crises, especially ones of a life-and-death nature, that motivates people to pray. Just as they say, “there are no atheists in foxholes,” times of crisis have a way of dismissing atheistic thoughts, if only temporarily. When all else fails, pray.

 

Even the game commentators, struggling to find words, spoke repeatedly about praying for the young man and his family. Whether they did so from faith conviction or not didn’t matter. They were tacitly acknowledging that in moments when all seems beyond our control, we hope and want to believe Someone greater than us indeed is in control and fully capable of doing what we cannot.

 

The following morning one commentator, Dan Orlovsky, a former pro football player himself, went beyond the “thoughts and prayers” for Hamlin. He actually bowed his head, closed his eyes and prayed aloud as his colleagues listened on with reverent respect. Subsequent social media posts gave him kudos almost unanimously.

 

I think back to the “flare prayers” I offered up during my college days, when I faced comparatively minor crises that seemed overpowering. I suddenly became devout when a difficult exam was looming or my personal life wasn’t progressing to my liking. Those prayers – feeble as they were – got answered, often in better ways than I could have dreamed.

 

We’re to pray earnestly in times of need. The Bible makes this clear. For instance, Philippians 4:6-7 admonishes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” However, God never intended for prayer to be used only a tool for crisis management.

 

I’ve lost count of the times prayer has provided comfort, hope and reassurance for our family: financial struggles, impending heart surgery, a cancer diagnosis, newborns in neonatal intensive care, career uncertainties. However, prayer ought to be our first recourse, not our last. We should pray when times are good, as well as when they’ve taken a bad turn.

 

The first Bible verse I ever intentionally memorized, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, tells us to, “pray without ceasing.” That means we can do it anywhere, at any time, no matter what we’re doing. I’ve often prayed while driving – with eyes open, of course. I’ve prayed many times during work meetings or difficult conversations, asking for God’s wisdom, direction, and even what to say (and not say).

 

Jesus Christ taught that when we pray, it’s not a matter of the right words or how many words we utter or offer silently. And we’re not to pray for the specific purpose of drawing attention to ourselves. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others…” (Mathew 6:5).

 

Prayer, at its essence, is a very personal communication between us as individuals and God, sometimes expressing thankfulness for food and a roof over our heads; other times offering praise for a spectacular sunrise or sunset; and yes, making an urgent plea when overwhelming circumstances occur.

 

Since I write these posts days in advance of their publication, I don’t know what Damar Hamlin’s condition will be when you read this. He and his family deserve our continued prayers. But I’m heartened by the image of players and coaches kneeling in prayer, asking the God who is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20) to intervene. I’m thankful for the sports commentators who affirmed the urgency for prayer. 

And I’m especially encouraged by the commentator who took the bold step to do more than talk about prayer; he did something about it, humbly and eloquently praying out loud on public TV. Maybe there’s hope yet for our increasingly secularized society. 

Are You a Prayer Warrior – Or Prayer Worrier?

Prayer is at once one of the most intriguing and most intimidating parts of the Christian life. We’re talking to a God we cannot see – at least in the physical, visual sense. And we approach Him with mixtures of praise, petitions, pleas and perplexities. Sometimes we feel the need to pray but have no clue about how we should pray or what we should pray for.

 

Preachers offer us prayer acronyms like ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication – but we’re tempted to shortcut through the praising, confessing and thanking portions so we can get right to the asking part – presenting our needs, concerns and desires. Praying, many of us agree, is hard.

 

Within our family of faith, there are those who are called “prayer warriors.” They have a God-given passion for praying. Some of them designate literal “prayer closets” or “war rooms” where they engage in spiritual battle with prayer as their only weapon. The Kendrick brothers even produced a movie called “War Room” about one such valiant woman.

These prayer warriors receive little acclaim – and do not seek it – but who knows the difference their faithful prayers have made within their families, churches, communities and even the nation? It’s said that at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England, where renowned British preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon served for more than 30 years, in the basement there was a “boiler room” (with no boiler, only chairs) where hundreds of people would gather every Sunday morning to intercede for him as he preached.

 

We sometimes hear folks speculating about whether we all have a guardian angel. Would that we each had a faithful prayer warrior to daily approach “God’s throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16) on our behalf.

 

But there’s another kind of praying person, one I would call the “prayer worrier.” I’ve fit this description at times. Prayer worriers are those who tend to turn to God in prayer only as a last resort, after they’ve exhausted all possibilities in trying to resolve their anxieties, concerns and worries. Then they don’t even pretend to go through the first three steps of ACTS. They plunge straight into Supplication, opening their prayers with something like, “God, it’s me again. We’ve got some troubles here…!”

 

This isn’t to ridicule such individuals, partly because I’ve been there. But the problem with prayer worrying is that we pray, presenting the dilemma to God, perhaps submitting a request as we entrust the matter to Him. Then, moments after our “amen,” we snatch back the concern and resume agonizing, trying to figure out how to solve it ourselves.

 

We don’t want to release the worrying part – at least it makes us feel like we’re doing something.

 

I haven't met many genuine prayer warriors, so I don’t know if sometimes they slip into prayer worrying. But worrying about something is about as effective as attempting to stop a raging river with the palm of our hand. That’s one reason we’re admonished in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

We want to protest, “Yeah, but what about…?” As one Bible scholar put it, when it says “everything” in the Greek, it means…everything. No exclusions, no exceptions. Not the coronavirus, not the political scene, not when our children aren’t always making the best decisions. Everything.

 

But how can we make the leap from prayer worrier to prayer warrior? I’m hardly the expert, but I suspect a very short, simple Scripture verse can point us in the right direction. Writing to the ancient church in Thessalonica, the apostle Paul exhorted them, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Or as another translation expresses it even more concisely, “pray continually.”

 

If we strive to stay in continual contact with God – like calling someone on the phone but never hanging up – the stresses and befuddlements of life are far less likely to consume us. When a little problem or major crisis arises, our first reaction is to pray, not to panic.

 

In introducing what we commonly know as “the Lord’s prayer,” Jesus said, “And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:7-8).

 

Do we truly believe that? Do we pray not to inform God of what’s happening, but to approach Him in reverence and trust, believing that in His time and His way He will answer our prayers, often in ways we could never have imagined? 

 

I love His promise from Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things that you do not know.” I’m all in favor of that – aren’t you?

A Simple Prescription for Effective Prayer

One of the essential, yet mysterious parts of a growing relationship with God is something called prayer. We find it in many forms: long, eloquent public orations by very religious-sounding individuals; very formalized liturgy repeated every Sunday in some congregations; very simple, humble expressions of men, women and children. All hoping to connect with the divine.

Prayer is something we all know we should do, but many of us would agree, “It’s so hard!” Where’s the best place to pray? The proper posture for praying? What are the right words to use? It seems so mysterious, especially seeking to commune with Someone we can’t see or touch.

 

Workshops, even entire conferences, are devoted to the subject of prayer. Countless books have been written on the topic. And yet many of us continue to ask, “What is the right way to pray?”

 

I’ll never claim to be an expert on prayer. It’s something I know I should do more, probably with greater fervency. But when I find myself stumbling around, trying to get past a prayerful roadblock, I often resort to a simple formula for prayer that I learned years ago:

A – adoration

C – confession

T – thanksgiving

S – supplication

 

There are many other approaches that can be used, but this one seems to put things into their proper perspective. By starting with adoration – or praise – we place our focus on God, rather than whatever we think we need or desire for Him to provide. 

 

Confession effectively cleans the slate as we take to the Lord our sins – acts of disobedience or rebellion that create “static” and interfere with or disrupt our communication with the God of all creation.

 

Thanksgiving is grateful recognition of who God is, as well as acknowledgement of what He has already done and what we trust He will do in response to our prayerful requests.

 

Then the “supplication” portion comes, even though we’re tempted to start our prayers with that. Years ago, a man I worked with observed that sometimes as we pray, we act as if God were a spiritual “short-order cook,” serving up whatever we select from the “menu.” Preceding our requests by adoration, confession and thanksgiving puts us into a more worshipful frame of mind. We can find ourselves more aligned with the Lord and His will. Sometimes this might even change what we ask for – or how we ask.

 

We can find this simple model or something like it many places in the Bible, but one special example is found in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. This cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia had learned about the ruined state of his hometown before exile, Jerusalem in Israel. The distressing news caused him to sit down and weep.

 

Feeling compelled to personally engage in the repair of the once-proud city’s walls and gates, Nehemiah knew he would need the king’s permission. However, before approaching Artaxerxes with the uncertainty of how he would respond, the royal servant first turned to God in prayer. Recorded in Nehemiah 1:5-11, he began by addressing “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands.”

 

Next Nehemiah prayed, “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you….” He then recounted God’s promise to restore His people and “bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name….”

 

Only then did Nehemiah get to the matter at hand, his wish to lead the extensive rebuilding of the Lord’s holy city: “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man [Artaxerxes].” 

 

When asked why he looked so sad, Nehemiah received the opportunity to express to the king what had happened to the city, but silently preceded his explanation with another brief prayer to God for His wise direction. Artaxerxes did authorize his cupbearer to undertake the ambitious project, even assisting with needed resources and protection.

 

This is just one biblical illustration, but it shows that prayer is simply honest, sincere communication with God. In one sentence, Philippians 4:6 offers a summation of this process: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Couple this with the concise admonition of 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing,”and we have a prescription for prayer that enables us to cut through unnecessary religious red tape.

 

Prayer is a privilege the Lord extends to His children as our Abba Father. Jesus Christ, by His once-for-all atoning sacrifice, has made it possible for us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). This is something we can “ACTS” upon with abounding joy. 

A Practical Template for Undertaking Critical Projects

We spend much of our everyday lives going through the motions: Waking up, making breakfast, getting cleaned up, fixing the bed. Going to work, whether that means riding in the car (or a bus or a train) or just moving to the next room and the computer for another day at the home office. Driving to the grocery store and collecting what’s on the shopping list. Turning on the TV and seeing if there’s anything worth watching.

 

Sometimes, however, important tasks or projects arise, ones that can’t be carried out without some intentionality. It might be the need for a major, unexpected purchase; the necessity to “reset” plans that have been in place for a while, or the realization that an important project can’t be delayed any longer. Something must be done, but where do you start?

 

I enjoy reading the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, which tells about the trusted cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia. A brother had told Nehemiah about the sorry state of once-proud Jerusalem, its wall broken down and gates burned. Even though he had spent most or all of his life in Persia as an Israelite exile, Nehemiah still viewed the ancient city as his homeland. 

 

Grieving over its devastation, he resolved something had to be done. How Nehemiah proceeded can serve as a template for any complex endeavors we need to undertake. Piggybacking on some points made recently by radio pastor Alistair Begg, here’s a synopsis of the process Nehemiah followed:

 

Prayerful preparation. It’s often said, “When all else fails…pray.” However, Nehemiah resorted to prayer beforehand, to ensure that he wouldn’t fail. “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). The passage then recaps the cupbearer’s eloquent prayer, including corporate confession of the Israelites’ rebellious sins and a request for success when he approached the Persian king with his concerns.

 

Common sense. Even though he desperately wanted to leave ASAP for Jerusalem, Nehemiah knew such an impulsive move wouldn’t sit well with King “Art.” Instead, he elected to just go about his duties, providing wine for the king as usual, and waited for his highness to make the first move. “I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, ‘Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.’” 

 

Given an opening, Nehemiah explained, “…Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” To which Artaxerxes responded, “What is it you want?” (Nehemiah 2:1-3). Even then, before blurting out what he desired to do, Nehemiah returned momentarily to step 1 and prayed for God’s direction and blessing on his request.

 

Wise man. Too often we make our move and then think, “Oops, forgot to pray first. All right, um, God, please bless my decision?” And we wonder why sometimes our best-laid plans go awry.

 

Careful thought. Once Nehemiah had told the king about his intent to return to Jerusalem to see about doing an extreme makeover, and received the king’s go-ahead, the valued cupbearer already had a clear plan of action in mind, including where to obtain the necessary materials and resources. It wasn’t just a pipedream – Nehemiah had even considered the kinds of pipes he would need. (Okay, what he needed was a supply of timbers, not pipes, along with official documents to ensure his safe travel.)

 

Sensible action. Once he arrived at Jerusalem, Nehemiah discovered the city’s condition was not as bad as he had thought – it was worse. Initially, he revisited steps 1-3, prayerfully assessing the extent of the damage and then formulating a specific strategy before presenting his ideas to the city officials who had remained there. “Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem….’ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work” (Nehemiah 2:17-18).

 

The rest of the book tells of the opposition Nehemiah and the builders faced, and how they took courage and stayed on task, amazingly completing the reconstruction in 52 days. During the entire time, his and others’ prayers continued to seek God’s strength, wisdom and blessing on their labors.

Are you confronting a major challenge at work – or in your home? Are you facing a critical decision that could have a huge impact on your future? You might consider following Nehemiah’s process of prayerful preparation, common sense, careful thought and then, sensible action. It’s one that has been utilized countless times to great success. 

The Most Under-used, Underappreciated Tool in the Toolbox

Since I’m not a handyman in even the most generous sense of the word, I feel perfectly objective in asking this question: What’s the most important tool in the toolbox? Is it the hammer? The screwdriver? The wrench? The crowbar? The saw? Reminds me of the story about the blind man who picked up the hammer and saw.

My reason for asking isn’t to solicit advice on a do-it-yourself project. I learned the futility of trying to do those kinds of things long ago. No, I’m thinking about an entirely different realm – the spiritual. Because God has entrusted us with a variety of “tools,” but I think there’s one that’s conspicuously under-used, underappreciated and undervalued. 

 

First, let’s look at some of the tools the Lord has put at our disposal. We find a handy list in Ephesians 6:13-20, which describes “the full armor of God.” This includes “the belt of truth buckled around your waist,” the breastplate of righteousness,” “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,” the “shield of faith,” the “helmet of salvation,” and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” 

 

We could examine each one of these in detail, but then one more “tool” is cited that’s sometimes overlooked in this whole “armor of God” discussion. The apostle Paul gives it the greatest attention in this passage:

“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. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

 

All the other parts of the “full armor of God” seem suited for a proper uniform of one going into battle – a belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet and sword. Most are used for defensive purposes, and the sword for taking the offensive. But prayer, somehow it doesn’t seem to fit on this list. But it should.

 

Some of us might regard prayer as a kind of last resort. When all else fails, pray. But we never see it viewed in that way in the Scriptures. In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says we’re to “pray without ceasing.” I’m no expert on the original Greek, but I think that means “all the time.” Or as I like to consider it, we’re to maintain a continual attitude of prayer. 

 

Basically, it’s similar to calling someone but never hanging up. We go about our daily activities, and whenever we feel the inclination, pick up the phone, talk a little bit, resume what we were doing, stop and talk some more, and so on. So we can start the day, our first waking moments, with prayer. We can pray while brushing our teeth, shaving, showering, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and driving to work (just don’t lower your head and close your eyes). 

 

We can even pray while we’re in the midst of the most riveting – or boring – meeting we’ve ever been a part of. Who’s to say we can’t? Again, bowing our heads and closing our eyes isn’t necessary. Do you typically bow your head and close your eyes when you talk with your spouse, child, or friend? In God’s point of view, it’s not the posture but the attitude of the heart that matters.

 

And when we pray, it isn’t only asking for stuff, like reading off a grocery list. Actually, that’s only a small part of it. I’ve always like the acronym for prayer: ACTS. It stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Lots of times we’re in a hurry to get to whatever we need or want, but following this simple model helps us to keep a proper perspective.

 

When we pause to pray, we need to remind ourselves of whom we’re addressing – the God of all eternity, the Creator of the universe. Sounds kind of important, doesn’t it? So adoration – or praise – is a good place to start. I suspect this isn’t original with me, but the one who prays to God also gives praise to God.

 

Confession is a way of making sure our prayer connection is clear, that there’s no static on the line. We don’t want any kind of interference when our desire is to communicate with the Lord.

 

Thanksgiving essentially is remembering who He is, as well as all that He’s already done for us, before we dive into our “shopping list.” There’s lots to thank him for, starting with a night’s rest, the fact we woke up to a new day with unlimited opportunities and potential, answers to prayers uttered in the past. The list could go on.

 

Then, finally, we can move on to supplications – our requests – whether they’re for ourselves or others. Philippians 4:6-7 wraps this up into a handy little bundle: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Which leads to one additional benefit: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

The tools God has provided for us – truth, righteousness, the gospel of Christ, faith, salvation, and His Word – are all wonderful. But let’s not neglect the tool of prayer. It just might be the cog that enables us to implement the other tools most effectively. 

Now Is the Time for Humility, for Repentance, and for Prayer

If you are a fan of chaos, you must be enjoying this year. A global virus pandemic. Protests. Riots across the country, which may or may not really be related to racism. The usual political blather, only amped up multiple times over. Shutdowns, businesses ruined, and economic turmoil. Schools closed, sports seasons in limbo. Having to wear masks, the first time that’s happened since “The Lone Ranger” enthralled TV fans more than half a century ago.

 

In considering root causes of many of these issues, it seems fairly evident that, as the Scriptures tell us, we’re experiencing what happens when you “sow the wind and reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). We keep hearing about the “new normal,” but many of us are longing for the old normal. Can’t we rewind to Dec. 31, 2019, or bypass 2020 altogether, start fresh with 2021, and see if that works out better?

 

For those inclined to be “fixers,” seeing a problem and wanting to get it resolved as quickly as possible, it’s frustrating. The COVID-19 restrictions were only supposed to last a few weeks until we “flattened the curve.” Those have expanded to months, with no certainty of ending anytime soon. What can we do?

 

Some folks believe politics is the answer. Get the right folks elected and before we know it, Kumbaya! The problem is, we’ve pursued the political solution for many decades; despite how “enlightened” our society supposedly has become, we’re still wrestling with many of the same problems.

 

Then we have the “Pollyanna people,” believers that the essential goodness in people will suddenly emerge, that we’ll all spontaneously become unselfish, kind and loving, generous, and all the other nice traits and values we can imagine. Sounds wonderful, right? Utopia, coming to a town near you! Except it’s been tried and failed, time after time. Why? Because, as the Bible says, “There is no one righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10-12). And in case we think that verse doesn’t mean what it says, Ecclesiastes 7:20 asserts the same truth: “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”

 

Pastor Jonathan Cahn is calling
for a time spiritual turning, repentance,
awakening and revival.

So, if politics/government and inherent human goodness aren’t the salve needed to salvage the current malaise of our nation – and the world – then what is? I think the answer’s found in a verse we often hear at community prayer gatherings, and once in a while in our churches: 

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

 

Sounds simplistic, I know. But are we doing it – right now? We’re wringing our hands, mumbling, complaining to one another, debating on social media, and maybe even sending out a pitiful prayer flare: “God, do something, please?” But are we, God’s people, humbling ourselves and praying and seeking His face – and turning from our wicked ways?

 

Our tendency is to stare at people outside our faith circles, point and say, “It’s them! They’re the ones who need to repent!” Ah, but that’s not what this Scripture says. The onus, it would seem, is on those who profess to be genuine followers of God, who manifested Himself on earth in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

Full disclosure: Anything I write here, if it seems I’m pointing a finger, there are several fingers pointing back at me, okay? So I’m not judging. 

 

Are we truly humbling ourselves, solemnly acknowledging and reminding ourselves daily that apart from the grace of God and redemption through Jesus Christ, we’re just as deserving of God’s condemnation and wrath as anyone?

 

Are we truly seeking the Lord, or are we merely giving Him lip service, devoting maybe an hour or two – if that – every week and living the rest of the week as if He didn’t exist? Coronavirus restrictions on church attendance aren’t an excuse. Were we genuinely, zealously seeking God even before all of that?

 

Are we turning from our own wicked ways? ‘What wicked ways?’ some might ask. Well, for starters, recognizing where we may be failing to serve as ambassadors for Christ in our communities, reaching out to others in His name, both tangibly and spiritually? Are we giving deference to the god of materialism, buying and accumulating far more stuff than any human really needs? (Again, fingers are pointing back at me, too.) Finding other “idols” to worship, ranging from our favorite sports teams to our spouses, children, jobs, achievements, entertainment, or our status in the community? Feel free to add to this list if you like.

 

These steps, it seems, are prerequisites to God’s promise to hear from heaven, forgive our sins personal and societal – and heal our land.

 

Recently I saw a brief video by Jonathan Cahn, author of The Harbinger and the Jewish pastor of Beth Israel, a Messianic congregation in New Jersey. In it he speaks of “The Return,” a time dedicated to “spiritual turning, repentance, awakening and revival.” Cahn talks of “10 days of vigilant prayer” – Sept. 18-28 – with a “sacred assembly,” a National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance, scheduled for the Mall in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2020.  

 

I don’t know much about Pastor Cahn, other than having read The Harbinger. But in today’s troubled times, many of us would welcome spiritual turning, repentance, awakening and revival. Perhaps some of us should participate in what is expected to be a large assembly of people. But we don’t have to wait for September to get started. Now is as good a time as any.

 

James 5:16 tells us, “The prayer of a righteous man [and woman] is powerful and effective.” Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). He also promised, “Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

 

How many of us are willing to take God up on these promises, to trust that our humble, seeking and repentant prayers will be heard and answered at a time when we as individuals – and a nation – desperately need for Him to act? Don’t just sit there; do something: Pray!

When We Don’t Know What to Do, Do What God Said

Since I write my posts a couple weeks in advance, one of these days the COVID-19 virus pandemic will thankfully have passed, making my thoughts about it outdated. But until then, I continue to ponder what God might be seeking to teach us through this unsettling “season” of our history. Maybe, among other things, He wants to remind of what He’s said all along.

For instance, the significance of prayer. We tend to regard prayer for emergencies only, a last resort. Or as something we indulge in for a few idle moments – which, until we’re engaged in social distancing and staying in place, seem scarce. But prayer is important throughout the Scriptures, and we see repeatedly that when people pray, amazing things happen.

For instance, in Jeremiah 33:3 we read, “Call on Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about the prospect of seeing “great and might things” these days, especially if the Lord is doing them. When things seem darkest, that’s when the light of Christ shines brightest.

Another of my favorite verses about prayer offers this simple admonishment: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). As I understand it, prayer is not something that occurs only at a certain time, when we’re in a certain place or in a certain position. To pray without ceasing means engaging in it continually, kind of like a face-to-face conversation – which we haven’t had much recently – or chatting with someone over the phone. There might be a pause in the exchange of words, but after a few moments we pick things up where we left off.

Of late, when followers of Jesus have mentioned praying about the coronavirus crisis, skeptics have scoffed, as if to say, “What good will that do?” In actuality, it can do a lot. Praying about any situation doesn’t mean passivity; in fact, the Scriptures teach whenever we have the opportunity, we’re to take appropriate and prompt action. But when we pray, we’re not only acknowledging and praising our God, but also recognizing His power and that He can do what we cannot.

Jesus told us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). Too often we fret and spit and moan and groan, when the most productive and meaningful thing we can do is pray.

There are some who have suggested COVID-19 is God’s judgment on America, or the world. I don’t know about that; such an idea is far beyond my theological pay grade. But when it comes to doing what God has said, especially when we’re unsure about what we should be doing, we have a powerful exhortation that we rarely consider.

Imagine if the millions of true followers of Jesus were to diligently and intentionally put into practice the instructions from 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Occasionally we see this passage trotted out for a community prayer breakfast or a similar event, but it’s something we all can do – individually and collectively – at any time. On numerous occasions we read about the people of Israel doing this in the Old Testament. They had lost interest in worshiping and following God, choosing instead to go their own way. Much as we’ve done in our nation. 

Then, when things turned bleak, the Israelites seemed to have one of those “Aha!” experiences. They repented, turned back to God, and He restored His blessings and protective care. Maybe that’s what the Lord is asking of us today. Things had been going well overall, seemingly without God’s help, but suddenly we’ve hit a major bump in the road. “What do we do?” we cry out in fear and despair.

Perhaps God is using this time to ask, “Are you willing to humble yourselves, and pray, and seek Me, and turn from your disobedience and rebellion? If so, I’m listening and eager to respond in ways you could never imagine.” Imagine that!