Sunday Sermons
Effective Prayer
Effective Prayer
There are times in life that one needs to just pause and soak in the moment. Often on a beautiful summer day I will stop, take a deep breath, and remind myself to “be all there instead of daydreaming about the past or the present, to really value what I presently have. I would exhort all to do the same— for the single to take pleasure in their time of being single, for the newly married and young couples to revel in their time together before the children, and for those with children to also enjoy the blessings unique to that period of life. How much more the privilege we have in praying to God. One of the most amazing blessings that runs through every stage in life and makes all the difference in each, is the incredible opportunity to speak with the Creator of the Universe—this truly awesome Lover of our soul, Who not only allows us, but earnestly desires us to pour out our hearts to Him, and eagerly waits to bless us as a result of our prayers.
- Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given to you”.
- Matthew 7:11 “How much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him”.
- Luke 18:1 “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart”.
- “But the prayer of the upright is His delight” (Proverbs 15:8).
- “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
In fact, God likens the prayers of the righteous to the lovely smell of fragrant incense (Revelation 8:3-4).
Incredibly Practical
Few things are more relevant and useful than prayer, thus it is often linked with incredibly practical things— things we need on a daily basis. The Scripture says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). When James noted that the prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much (James 5:16), we so often forget what prayer can do for us right now, especially what it does for us deep on the inside. Too often we think about a specific answer to prayer—without realizing how the process of trusting and pouring our hearts to God changes us for the better right now.
- Got worries? Worried about the future? Worried about finances? Worried about the economy? Worried about the weak? Worried about your kids? Worried about your health? Let God have every one: 1 Peter 5:7
- Lack wisdom? Don’t know what to do? Feel over your head? Feel completely unprepared for the next stage of your life? Don’t know what do you about a parenting issue? Having a hard time getting a biblical concept? Struggling with selfishness? Desire a better perspective? Tired of doing dumb things? Feel that you really blew it today? There is wisdom to be had—and it is generously given: James 1:5
- Want an Opportunity? Looking for an open door? Want to be more effective in reaching people with the gospel? “Praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word” (Colossians 4:3).
- Need Courage? Tired of being shy and timid? Weary of feeling like a wall flower in the game of life? Frustrated with leaving one more conversation in which you really said nothing that was eternally important? “And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19).
- Tired of Being Caught Off Guard? Frustrated with being unprepared for questions, situations or opportunities? Tired of feeling that you are always a step slow or you don’t think of what to do until the opportunity is past? Frustrated that the ready answer seems to show up week after you need it? The Bible links prayer with spiritual alertness (Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2 “keeping alert in it”).
- Under A lot of Pressure/Trying to Keep Your Head on Straight? Consider Daniel. Taken from his parents and homeland when probably a teenager, he spent his whole life living in a strange land and was under a lot of pressure being both in high office as well as a believer in God and had definite enemies because of his faith. Even after a decree was signed that would have resulted in his death, he continued to pray (Daniel 6:10). In all this Daniel never cracked or fell apart. The same is true of women like Hannah, who was childless and tormented by a rival, then after finally having a son, giving him permanently to the service of God. Yet it appears that she had a great perspective and lived a very fulfilling and happy life (1 Samuel 2:1).
Just how does prayer helps us stay mentally, emotionally, and most importantly, spiritually healthy?
- These people when they prayed, pour out their hearts to God: 1 Samuel 1:10, 15. Often in Scripture, those who prayed “cried” to the Lord (Psalm 18:6; 88:13; 120:1; 130:1; 142:5). When you pour it all out to God, there is nothing left to sit and fester and eat you up on the inside. It is as if you are getting all the poison out, all the things that can drive you nuts, all those things that are like acid, that left on the inside will eat away at your happiness. Refuse to come to God, and ask for help, and one can only remain full of things that poison everything from relationships to perspectives and everything in-between. Prayer is indeed an antidote.
- The very act of admitting one's own limitedness, one's desperate need for God and desire for help to change—and you are half way to an actual solution. Like the Prodigal Son, once he made the humble-hearted decision to start back home, and once he took that first actual step—everything else just fell into place. Pride and wanting to be self-sufficient can often be that one thing that keeps things from just falling in place. When people complain that something is hanging them up or preventing them from making any real progress either in their walk with God or a relationship, what it might be is a refusal to ask for help, especially from God.
Concerned About our Nation?
Worried about the direction of the nation? The moral decline? The state of the family and marriages? Our economy? What things will be like for your children?
- “...and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” ( 2 Chronicles 7:14).
Even when God’s people found themselves among other cultures in foreign lands, they were still expected to pray for the peace of the place in which they lived (Jeremiah 29:7). This is even true in the New Testament: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). If you've lived long enough, you've seen for yourself how God has answered these prayers in our life time. For the vast majority of our lives we have lived in a very peaceful nation. No revolutions, invasions by foreign powers or civil wars. No situations in which it took a wheel-barrel loaded with money just to buy a loaf of bread. God has been very good to us as a nation. Next time you hear someone complaining about the state of this country—why not redirect them to a passage such as 2 Chronicles 7:14. Ask them if they think the answer might be returning to God, changing our selfish ways and praying for forgiveness? Let's resolve to continually pray that God would heal the land. Carefully read 1 Timothy 2:1-2. The passage never said that if we pray the candidate that we voted for will be in office or that all the ballot measures will turn out the way that we wanted them. It says that we need to pray for our leaders so we can live a life in which we can practice our faith and spread the gospel, instead of spending all our time just trying to stay alive.
Failing to See the Answered Prayer
It is easy to read 1 Timothy 2:1-2 and fail to see how God has been answering that prayer in my lifetime over and over again. Take inventory: what other answered prayers is God overdue for a heartfelt "Thank you so very much, Heavenly Father"?
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
