It's Not What We Say About Prayer that Makes the Difference!

Someone has said, "It is not what we say about prayer that makes the difference; it is what we do about it."   James 4 makes clear that "you have not because you ask not."   Sometimes the reason for our lack is simply a lack of asking.   This is amazing given the spectacular promises Scripture makes regarding prayer.  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7).   Here are five quick thoughts on how we can and should pray in 2018.

1.    Pray for Laborers -- Luke 10:2 instructs, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."   Jesus told us plainly that the key to getting workers is to pray.   In fact, Jesus told His disciples to pray, and He knew full well that He intended to send them.  Perhaps sometimes we are reluctant to pray lest we be sent!  The harvest is plentiful, and we need more workers.   I am praying for new workers in CEF across the USA and around the globe and that we will exceed 3500 workers worldwide by the end of 2018.   Whether for CEF or some other kingdom endeavor, the key to getting laborers is going to the Lord on a continual basis and asking Him to burden the hearts of men and women to answer the call.   I challenge each of us to pray for laborers.

2.    Pray with Persistence -- Luke 18:1 states, "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart."   Jesus acknowledges that sometimes we will grow discouraged in praying and want to give up praying.  But He then tells the parable of the judge and the widow who was repeatedly asking.  He does so to underscore the importance of our remaining persistent in our prayers.   Sometimes I may want to give up or give in, but when I am praying in the will of God, I need to pray on!   In this year ahead, I want to pray for laborers with greater diligence than ever before and ask the Lord to open the doors, lead us to the right people, and provide the resources necessary to fund those who answer the call.

3.    Pray for the Nations -- Psalm 2:8 says, "Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession."  We need to be praying for lost people all over the world and asking that the Gospel might go forth in those places in power and demonstration of the Spirit.   CEF is currently active in nearly every nation on earth.  One nation we can all pray for is North Korea.  I encourage you to pray for openings for the Gospel in Muslim nations and other hard to reach places.   Jesus told us to go to all nations, and His last command must be our first concern.

4.    Pray in Faith -- Mark 10 records the parable of the fig tree.   Days earlier Jesus had cursed the fig tree because it was barren.   In Mark 10:21 Peter remarked about the cursed tree while on the return trip; Jesus took this opportunity to instruct His disciples about prayer -- "Have faith in God!  Truly I say to you, whoever says to the this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him'" (Mark 10:22,23).   In 2018, let's trust the Lord to do "exceedingly abundantly beyond anything that we could even ask or think."  In the words of John Wesley, "Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to that alone; Laughs at impossibilities, and cries, IT SHALL BE DONE."   

5.    Pray for Our Leaders -- I Timothy 2:2-4 instructs us to pray "for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."   These verses link our prayers for our governing leaders to evangelistic efforts.   Thus it comes full circle.  

We ought to pray for laborers to do His work, and we ought to pray with persistence that His work will be done among the nations.  These prayers ought to be offered in believing faith, and we should do so knowing that our prayers for our leaders will impact them and our ability to be on mission sharing the Gospel with every creature. "It is not what we say about prayer that makes the difference; it is what we do about it."