When do you pray? Why do you pray? How would you explain the meaning or purpose of prayer in a single sentence? S. D. Gordan, a well-known author and speaker in the early 1900’s put his answer this way: “The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is to pray. It is not the only thing, but it is the chief thing. The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer, nor those who say they believe in prayer, nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean these people who take time and pray.” Would you agree or disagree?
Godly men and women throughout history have given us helpful insights into the importance of prayer. Here are just a few of them:
“When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops reading the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy.” – Corrie Ten Boom
“Through prayer we journey from wherever we are on earth to the very heart of God.” – Ray Ortlund
“God designed prayer to give His disciples the joy of bearing fruit while God Himself get the glory.” – John Piper
“God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything He knows.” – Timothy Keller
“Prayer is the very way God Himself has chosen for us to express our delight and praise, along with our conscious need of Him and our humble dependence on Him. – John Stott
Knowing these truths, you might want to ask yourself these questions. When do I really pray? Why do I pray? God’s lavish invitation to ask Him for good things, with the promise that He will give them, is unimaginably wonderful. Does it make you want to delight in the Lord your God through both spontaneous moments and intentional minutes in prayer?
