If you’re anything like me, I always thought prayer was pretty boring – and I wasn’t the only one! I once heard of a man who tried praying early in the mornings but kept falling asleep, so he filled his bathtub with water and sat in it, hoping not to nod off and drown. He was alive to tell the story so I guess you could say he was successful.
For several years our church met from 6 to 7 am each weekday morning for prayer. We often brought in the daily newspaper, ripping out pertinent articles, and passed them around for people to pray over. It was a great way to target our prayers, covering both local and national issues.
But why would people sit in bathtubs or get up at early in the morning to pray? Why not just be content to sing that old Doris Day song, “Que sera, sera” (whatever will be, will be) and simply coast through life? So glad you asked!
Pastor David Jeremiah sums up the purpose and benefits of prayer perfectly: “Prayer is the way you defeat the devil, reach the lost, restore a backslider, strengthen the saints, send missionaries out, cure the sick, accomplish the impossible, and know the will of God.” That pretty much covers everything!
But I personally believe that prayer alone is not enough! Now don’t swallow and choke on your lunch with that, but God partners with people. I always tell people to pray with their shoes on. In other words, pray and then be prepared to act. As Saint Augustine put it: “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you!”
I find it interesting that nineteen years ago, following the 9-11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, our churches were packed for several weeks following that horrific event. But now churches, for many reasons, are closed or grievously diminished in numbers! Our precious United States are no longer being attacked by planes but we are without question being attacked and it’s time for action!
A “National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance” called The Return is scheduled for Saturday, September 26th on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and throughout the nation and world. This event is for the purpose of calling for a return to God; to come before His presence in humility, in prayer and in repentance.
In order to facilitate and encourage participation in this significant event, The Dwelling Place City Church will be hosting an organized time of prayer on Saturday, September 26th from 5 to 6 pm in their main sanctuary. Anyone desiring to participate is welcome and urged to attend.
We firmly believe the scripture from 2 Chronicles 7:14 which tells us: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
I’d like to close with a truly insightful quote by A.C. Dixon: “When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do. And so on. But when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do!”
Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you can visit them at DPCityChurch.com.
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