Wednesday, December 12, 2007

• Spiritual Challenge

        "Our Lord Jesus Christ intended Christianity to be a way of life in which the local assembly would be a "house of prayer".  However, when the gospel was exported to the Greeks, eventually they turned it into a philosophy.  Then it emerged in Rome where it became an institution.  From there it surfaced in Europe, where it was turned into a culture.  Finally, it was exported to America, where we in this generation have turned it into entertainment, excitement and/or enterprise.

        Tragically, we have failed to realize that prayer is the launch pad of all ministry and that without it we short-circuit God's chosen method of work.  The prayer service in most American churches has become the least attended meeting on the church calendar."  -Richard Burr

        How are you doing?  This has been a topic I have thinking about a lot recently, so when I came across this quote, I was amazed at how well it put my thoughts into words.  My church has a prayer meeting once every week.  But one thing I have been disappointed with has been the way attendance has slowly dissipated to only one, maybe two families.  This has left me wondering "Why?"  How come only 1/30 of the church membership comes to prayer meeting?

        Could it be that we approach everything in society based upon what it can do for us?  I mean, if we can't get anything out of it, why be involved at all.  I'm probably stepping on some toes here, but be realistic.  Wasn't prayer a command in Scripture?  Could this indicate a problem in the hearts of men and women alike?  Could that problem be a lack of faith in the usefulness and effectiveness of prayer?  Could it be a feeling of spiritual inferiority on our part and we figure, in order to avoid being a hypocrite, we just won't come to prayer?  I understand that time and logistics pose a problem to many people, but to not come AT ALL?  How is your prayer life at home?

        I know these are tough questions, but I ask these because I ask them to myself.  There have been many times when I have had no interest in attending prayer meeting for various reasons, so I know how the process of rationalization goes.  But I have also realized that this led to a deeper problem in my heart, that being a lack of faith in God.  When I don't see prayers answered right away or even at all (in my opinion), I don't want to waste my time talking into thin air.  But it is during those times that I also open myself up to temptation.  My relationship with God suffers and I lose my love for Him.

        Prayer is our link to God; it is our lifeline.  Without it, we get strangled in the cares of this world and die.  This cuts off our spiritual oxygen.  When we see someone struggling for air, we never turn our backs; that would be beastly, sadistic and morally wrong for us to do that.  We do everything possible to restore their breathing to normal.  The same is true in our spiritual life.  When we don't pray, we have just unplugged our life support and we begin to struggle.

        If you are currently fighting doubts, fears, anger, depression, anxiety, or sundry other maladies, take time out to restart your prayer life.  Spend time in prayer.  Even Jesus, of all people, needed to pray.  It was critical that He did that, or He would not have known the Father's will.  I'm not saying spend all night in prayer.  All I'm saying is, pray as the Holy Spirit leads, and stop quenching it.

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