PRAYER FIRST

007 – MARCH 2004


PRAYER SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST CHOICE

LUKE 18:1 “NOW HE WAS TELLING THEM A PARABLE TO SHOW THAT, AT ALL TIMES, THEY OUGHT TO PRAY AND NOT LOSE HEART, …”

I OFTEN RECALL THE CHAT THAT I HAD WITH THE LOCAL MINISTER. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL PROBLEMS THAT HE WAS HAVING WITH HIS RIGHT ARM. HE SHARED THE ENDLESS STRIVING HE HAD ENDURED FOR SOME SOLUTION AND, AT THE END OF HIS SAD STORY, HE SAID … “I FINALLY RESORTED TO PRAYER.”
THIS CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE OVER 20 YEARS AGO, YET THOSE WORDS STILL RING IN MY EAR. IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE CAN ALL FALL INTO THIS SAME BAD HABIT. WE HAVE A FLESHLY INCLINATION TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT GOD’S HELP. WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO REACH INTO OUR HUMAN BAG OF TRICKS AND FORGET THAT THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS JUST MIGHT HAVE A VERY EXTRAORDINARY AND DISTINCT ANSWER FOR US … IF WE WOULD ONLY ASK.

JA 5:16 “…THE EFFECTIVE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN CAN ACCOMPLISH MUCH.”

JUST THE OTHER DAY, SOMEONE SPOKE TO ME ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING. WE BOTH OFFERED IDEAS TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM AND UNRAVEL THIS VERY REAL DILEMMA. WE PLODDED THROUGH THE SCENARIO AND, AFTER 30 EXHAUSTING MINUTES, I RECALLED THE MINISTER’S COMMENT FROM SO LONG AGO. I SAID, “YOU ARE IN A REAL PICKLE. LET’S BACK OFF. LET’S PRAY!”
WE SIMPLY ASKED FOR GOD’S WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING.
WOULDN’T YOU KNOW, WITHIN A FEW DAYS - THE PERSON CALLED ME BACK TO SHARE GOD’S ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER. THE “OTHER PERSON” RESPONDED IN A MOST BEAUTIFUL AND KIND MANNER. HARMONY WAS RESTORED AND IT HAPPENED … ABSENT OF ANY PLAN OF ATTACK … VOID OF STRATEGY … WITHOUT A BLUEPRINT … WITHOUT A DIAGRAM, SKETCH OR OUTLINE TO” GET THAT PERSON CHANGED!”. “NOW!”

SO, WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO “RESORT TO PRAYER”? WHY DO WE SAVE IT FOR LAST? WHY DOES IT SEEM SO NATURAL TO TRY ALL OF OUR OWN STUFF FIRST?
I’M NOT SUGGESTING THAT GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO “TAKE ACTION” BUT I THINK THAT TODAY WOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO ASK GOD TO HELP YOU TO TRUST HIM. TODAY WOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO DECIDE TO PRAY FIRST IN ALL SITUATIONS.

“OH, WHAT PEACE WE OFTEN FORFEIT,
OH, WHAT NEEDLESS PAIN WE BEAR,
ALL BECAUSE WE DO NOT CARRY
EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER.”

WHY NOT TAKE A MOMENT AND PRAY RIGHT NOW. C’MON … DO IT. IT WILL BE GOOD FOR YOU. CLOSE YOUR EYES, CONCENTRATE ON JESUS AND JUST TALK WITH HIM. PRAY!
CHRIS