Friday, June 01, 2007

Article - Being Instant in Prayer

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer...”
- Romans 12:10-12

Are you distressed at the current moral climate of our nation? Do you feel helpless and hopeless about any changes for the better? If you are in this condition, have you thought to pray? I am reminded of the hymn, Did You Think to Pray? by Mary Kidder. She writes:

Ere you left your room this morning,
Did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ our Savior,
Did you sue for loving favor,
As a shield today?
Oh, how praying rests the weary!
Prayer will change the night to day;
So when life seems dark and dreary,
Don’t forget to pray.

The Bible teaches that we have instant access to our Lord. He is always available to hear our petitions. In the above verse, the Apostle Paul commands us to be instant in prayer. He is teaching us to earnestly persevere in our petitions to the Heavenly Father. Sometimes we are discouraged when we do not find instant peace or solutions to our problems. Do
not be disheartened! Continue to pray that God will lead you according to His holy will. The Bible teaches us that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous main availeth much (James 5:16). As we enter into the summertime months, here are a couple things that we need to diligently remember in prayer:

1. We need to pray for our churches. We are living in a time where many do not see the importance of public worship. The Bible teaches us that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). God blesses us in an extraordinary way when we are faithful to assemble ourselves together in corporate worship. There are myriad
reasons that people stop attending church. Some have been offended by another. Some might be overwhelmed with personal problems while others might have grown apathetic in their Christian walk. Whatever the case, we need to pray for those that are struggling. We need to diligently pray that God would revive his people so they will return unto their first
love and glorify the Lord.
2. We need to pray for our youth. As we enter into the summer months, many of our children have completed another school year. Some have graduated and are planning to move on to secondary education. We need to constantly remember them as we pray to the Lord. Satan desires to cast stumbling blocks in the paths of our youth. I have observed many cases
where young adults have faltered in their Christian walk when they leave home and enroll in college. An articulate, engaging professor can undo 17 years worth of spiritual training in a semester. Pray that God would bless our youth to follow the way of truth and withstand the assaults of the devil.
Moral change will not occur through government policy. It will only be realized when the Lord’s people repent of their sins and turn towards Him. All of us have the ability to pray. He hears our cries and answers prayer. I am reminded of Solomon’s charge in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.” Our churches are in great need of revival. Our youth are under attack by Satan. Let us strive now to be diligent, fervent, and instant in prayer, that God will forgive our sins and bless our churches and young
people to honor His holy name!

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

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