Many Christians should undertake a full and vested prayer life. I believe it goes without question that almost everyone claiming to be a child of God understands the need to pray, but are we confident our prayers are justifiable before God? Prayer is to be made without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NKJV). Intercession should be manufactured based on the assurance that the recipient, God, has and will receive (James 1:6). But the challenging part lies in the fact that too often, we, as human beings, solicit God only in times of duress (Matthew 8:25). Rather, praying is something we should master both personally and privately. For example, George Wheeler (1698) is credited with one of the world’s best applications of this notion. His “Upon Lying Down,” written from the vantage point of a child, reminds us of all the great pleasure we have in approaching God. It reminds us of our pleasure in seeking God (Hebrews 11:6). The poem praises the ability of God to protect the innocent in every manner, especially when most vulnerable (Psalm 139:1-6). Yet, many do not call upon the Lord for one of the most basic needs in prayer: a heart that is right with Him. David once cried out, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). How often do you pray? Prayerfully, all the time. More importantly, how often do we pray to be right with God? Again, prayerfully, we do it “without ceasing.”
In Christ,
Archie R. Green
0 Comments