In I Samuel 4 the Israelites go into battle against the Philistines. To Israel’s dismay they are defeated and lose over four thousand soldiers in battle. Afterwards, the Israelite leaders brainstorm and come up with the idea to bring the Ark of the Covenant into battle believing it would secure them a victory. The Ark of the Covenant is brought into camp and all the people start rejoicing so loudly that the Philistines hear them and become afraid, “We must be strong and not let their gods defeat us!”
The next day the Israelites go into battle and are massacred. Instead of four thousand lost, the Israelites lost thirty thousand men. What happened? The Israelites had a lot to learn about God. God was not some good luck charm that was stored in a box that could be taken advantage of during hard times then stored away.
Too often we treat God like a lucky rabbit’s foot. Most people have an incorrect view of prayer. A math test comes up that we haven’t studied for and we throw up a quick prayer to God, “Lord, help me to understand everything I’ve studied…and everything I haven’t.” Prayer for most people can be summed up as a religious practice that Christians do when they are about to eat, go to bed (to protect themselves from bed bugs), are in church, or in trouble.
This is an incorrect view of prayer. Prayer is powerful! It is getting into God’s presence and staying there! It is not lifeless, boring old habit that religious people do. It is moving away from the busyness, the worries, self-agendas and the distractions of this world and meeting with God.
During this time with God you will find yourself fighting for your friends lives, fighting for your family. There will be a war within the heavenly realms. Be ready to take up your Sword. Learn how to wield it. You will experience unexplainable joy and satisfaction. You will go into the depths of your soul and God’s light will search you. You will soon discover the junk that lives within you, yet you will be set free as that junk is burned away by the fire of God.
You may come in empty but you will walk out filled. God will be made more real to you. Your friendship with him will grow. You will see Him more as a Father, as a Friend, as the Provider and Satisfier of your soul. Be ready because you too will experience pain as the Father prunes you, but when it is all said and done, you will rejoice because this is how you grow. You will find your strength and power, your confidence, your might, your passion and your energy will be revived. You will meet God. Like Elijah, you will hear the gentle, still small voice in the midst of the fire, wind and earthquake. This is where you will become the man or woman God planned you to be! This my friend is why you should pray!!!
How should we pray? First of all, pray with passion. Don’t pray in bed half asleep lollygagging in your dreams. If you feel a warm, fuzzy feeling beware! This is the sign of powerless praying. Get up, walk around. Guys, do some pushups to get the blood flowing. If you have no passion, pray until you have passion. True fervent prayer comes from a fire from within. Sometimes we must get that fire started by praying until ignition. It is like me trying to start my 1986 Turbo diesel by turning on my glow plugs—it takes time and patience, doing it over and over again. Bring energy, excitement and expectation into your prayer life.
Secondly, Time equals power. I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray continually. E.M. Bounds says, “In our private communications with God time is a feature essential to its value. Much time spent with God is the secret of all successful praying.” Daniel would take important time out of his day three times a day to pray. Jesus prayed while it was still dark outside. Take this as an important example, great men and women of prayer don’t throw prayer into a busy, chaotic schedule. Like Jesus, they place prayer as top priority, not in the middle.
Third, pray God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” We must learn to wield the Sword of the Spirit in prayer. Don’t just pray empty words, pray God’s Word!
Finally, pray in the spirit. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions. Praying in the spirit is when you submit your heart and mind to the direction and leading of the Holy Spirit. Do you ever wonder what you should pray about? Ask the Holy Spirit. He is your guide. But remember it is more than asking—it is submitting, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done.”
The men that moved this world for God were men of prayer. John Wesley prayed two hours a day. Martin Luther prayed three hours a day and said, “I’m too busy not to pray.” Bishop Asbury said, “I propose to rise at 4 o’clock as often as I can and spend 2 hours in prayer.” Joseph Alleine prayed from 4-8AM each morning.
Missionary to Africa, David Livingstone was also a man of prayer. When David was a young boy his father would read him stories of missionaries that had accomplished marvelous tasks for God. David was captivated by these intriguing stories and was inspired to become a missionary. When David grew up he went to Africa to bring God to the tribes that had not heard of Jesus. Ravi Zacharias tells us that David was away from his wife and family not five weeks, not five months but five years!
During this time he had been attacked by lions, his left eye had been blinded from running into a bush and his skin was turned into leather from the boiling sun. When he finally came back to his wife and family his wife didn’t even recognize him. Despite all this David felt like God was calling him back to Africa. This time his wife came and the cost was great. She died of a disease just a few days after being in Africa.
At the end of his road David was still serving God by reaching out to the people of Africa. Finally, one day David was so exhausted that he could barely walk and was forced by his companions to take a rest. As they were about to place him in his bed he said, “Wait, don’t put me in bed. Help me to my knees.” David began praying fervently like he always did. The men waited for him to finish praying but noticed that he was praying for a long time but they didn’t want to interfere with his praying. Finally, a man came to them and said, “Let me in. I have to ask Mr. Livingstone a question.” The men finally went in to discover that David Livingstone had died on his knees in prayer. David Livingstone had died exactly the way he had lived, In the presence of God!
