mft93

I want to talk about the necessity of prayer in a Christians life if religion is to be meaningful. It is absolutely essential that we meet God in prayer if we really want to know him. Just as a person can only be fully real to us as we get to know him personally, so it is with God! You can talk and think about God all you care to but that is no substitute for meeting him face to face. Hence to know God we must learn how to pray.

If you want to know why this is essential let me point out to you that the one who most clearly revealed God to us felt the need to pray and pray often. Yes Jesus spent much time in prayer. If he felt it necessary how much more ought we feel the need for getting alone with God? Getting alone with God is like telephoning another. When you phone someone you cannot see them but you do hear their voice. When we speak to God through the avenue of prayer we often have to wait for an answer, but pray we must nevertheless.

It has been said that the great men of God have been examples of prayer. They moved the world closer to God by the way they prayed. That is just one more reason that you and I need to spend time in prayer.

Some folks will tell you that if God knows our needs and wants to meet them why do you need to pray? I have already pointed out how Jesus felt the need to pray and that the great men of God were powerful prayers. Then certainly it is a must for you and I to learn how to commune with God if our religion is to be real.

I’ve heard people say God is on the golf course as well as in a meeting for worship. That may be true but I’ve heard different language on the golf course than I’ve ever heard in church. God is present in the midst of praying people and you seldom see golfers in prayer. God is Spirit and when we are in the Spirit we are in a state of prayer.

To be in the Spirit is to be in communion with God. It matters not how we have that communion, whether in silence or in words, but have it is a must! It doesn’t matter when that takes place either. Some prefer to start the day with a time for their daily devotions. For others the time for prayer is on retirement and before going to sleep. Often praying will help the sleeping process take place. There are times when that can be a real plus!