Why Not Pray? – Part 1 – No Excuses

Michael writes this week: The goal of a Christian is that he may become a man or woman of prayer. Prayer is aligning our hearts with God's heart. Why do people struggle so much with prayer and keeping a prayer journal? One reason is that they are afraid of being alone with God in the "Inner Chamber." Another excuse is that they are too busy. They begin well with good intentions but the cares of the world choke their desire to spend time with God in prayer. Martin Luther said, “I have so much to do today that I must spend the first three hours in prayer.”  Another excuse we use is apathy and complacency. Another is a fear of failure ... that I'm not disciplined enough to pray. I don't want to make a commitment to prayer that I'll break. Another excuse is being afraid to be found out that I'm not the person that God intended me to be. These people fear transparency and vulnerability before God and before their brothers and sisters in Christ. Another excuse for failure to pray is the fear of being rejected for disclosing secrets to others and to God. These people fear that someone may find their secret prayer journal and use it to expose their deep dark secrets.

1 Timothy 2:1-8 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,  intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.”

The Apostle Paul was training his "dear son in the faith" Timothy to be the next shepherd of God's church. Paul had been persecuted and pursued because of his stand for the truth of the Word of God. Those who had not been through trials and tribulation and persecution became "soft" in their believing. They lost their heart for evangelism because they forsook the priority of prayer. To share the weakness of my flesh is to lay down my request at the foot of the cross to allow God to intervene. Without the power of God, we are nothing. It's not about me, it's about Him. No man is in the dark so deep as the one who thinks he's in the light but he's really in the dark.  

Let continue Michael's message on Praying on the next post.

In Christ, Brian