Sometimes we can learn things from everyday situations. A few years ago, my three-year-old son and I went for a walk. We were in an unfamiliar area with lots of vegetation. I told my son to stay close by me. He was doing great. However, when a calf that had broken loose from the rope that she had been tied with, went running by, my son gave chase. “Did I not just tell him to stay close to me?” I thought. Deciding it was a good time for a lesson, I hid behind a large rock pile and waited. It didn’t take long before I heard his small voice crying for daddy. The longer he searched the more desperate he became. After just a few moments, I ran and scooped him up, hugging him, while also reprimanding him for wandering off. (Haiti is one of the easiest places for a child to be kidnapped.) Later that day as I was pondering on the morning events, I had to wonder if I would react in that same way when I discover that I have drifted away from my Heavenly Father…
It seems like we hear many messages and teachings on restoring our relationships—with our wives, our husbands, our children, and our parents. I am very thankful for these teachings. I have learned a great deal from them, but I believe it is time to hear some teaching on restoring our relationship with God. If my relationship with my wife is struggling, I’m not okay with it. If there is a lack of communication between me and my children, something must be done. Yet, do I have the same concern when I feel something has gotten in between me and my God?
The Bible tells us what happened the first and only time that Jesus and his Father were separated …Jesus cried with a loud voice … My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? –Mat 27:46.
I remember clearly the time I spent courting my wife. I longed to talk to her. There was something about simply talking to her that made me happy, it also helped me get to know her. I found myself wanting to talk with her every chance that I could. I would look for opportunities to call her when I awoke, during my lunch break, after work, and before I went to bed. The reason why is obvious—I loved her.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment –Mar 12:30.
If we are called to love God with all our heart, would the proof of that not be a great desire to talk with Him? It seems to me that here in Haiti, the devil doesn’t necessarily want me to go steal something, or to get angry with a church member, or even stop going to church. He wants me to stop praying, because everything else will follow. Since the Bible tells us to pray in secret, some folks think it’s easy to not pray, and no one will find out. But if we stop praying, it’s not long until our connection with God starts to suffer, the flow of His power slows to a trickle, and the love of His word grows cold. Surely other people can tell when our interests are on other things and our church life doesn’t seem as important or exciting as it once was.
Our business grows because we put in the time; our relationships grow because of our effort given. Our spiritual well-being grows because of time spent on our knees. Do you ever feel yourself so wrapped up in the things of this life that it affects your prayer time? That’s the work of the devil. “But,” you might say, “The things that are occupying my time are not bad.” Yes, that’s the wise old devil.
I’ll share a personal testimony. I began the large project of building the mission house. I hired 30 Haitian men and we began to work. I soon realized it was going to be more difficult than I had expected. Everything needed to be micromanaged; everything needed to be controlled. Supplies would vanish in the night; fights would break out. A voodoo spell was cast on more than one occasion. If I turned my back they stopped working. And the list goes on.
I soon became consumed with it all. One early morning as I knelt to pray, I couldn’t keep my mind off the work. I tried to refocus but back it would go… Do I have enough materials for today? Will people show up? On and on my thoughts went. After a few weeks this became my normal routine. My prayer time was a time to think about my approaching day. It’s not how I wanted it. I even hated it, but it seemed that I had lost control. One day I realized I needed something in Port-au-Prince, but I had no time to go get it, the workers were waiting. I then thought of the motorbike that we purchased for mountain preaching. I quickly got on it and was off. I knew I was going too fast, 110 kilometers an hour was as fast as it went. But I don’t have time, I thought. Suddenly a tap-tap (taxi) that was coming towards me turned right in front of me. Many say it was done on purpose. Either way, I was now skidding down the road. I felt my flesh being torn away. All I could think about during that next minute, was my prayer time. God was speaking to me. Wake up! A bystander said I was an inch away from certain death as the bike hit the truck and my body flew past. I spent the next number of weeks recovering… thinking. Out of His love, God had sent me a message. After repenting sorrowfully, my peace was restored. And once more, I could pray!
The devil knows that if we stop praying effectively, we are powerless in the work God has put before us. We cannot be effective pastors, deacons, brothers, sisters, missionaries, fathers, or mothers, if our prayer life is hindered. That is why the devil attacks this area of our Christian life so hard. It seems today that many churches and missions are struggling. It’s starting to be the norm. Could it be because our time spent in prayer is insufficient? When you think of a mighty man of God, what do you think of? A powerful preacher? An organized leader? A brave missionary? What about a man on his knees, standing in the gap between God and his family—his people. God will use a praying man. He has a lot of work to do and is looking for a praying warrior. But it’s difficult for God to use a man with too much on his mind or no interest in prayer.
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest –Joh 4:35.
We have all heard powerful stories about prayer, people being healed, saloons being shut down, storms calming, and so on. I’m excited each time God works in this way, whether in my life or in the life of another Christian. However, a steady, consistent prayer life reveals the greatest miracle of all: a holy life, a pattern of victorious living.
If my son would have never found me that day, he would have had some rough days ahead of him. Likewise, if we stay disconnected from our Heavenly Father, the future doesn’t look good. Many people confess the need to pray more, but is there actual change? Are we praying more? Or is it just the way it is? Late nights equal late mornings. Sleep is more important, or maybe the connection is so severed that you feel there’s no use. The Bible says multiple times that God will give us what we ask for. If this is true, then praying should be exciting! But if our will does not line up with God’s, then not a whole lot happens when we pray, thus we think it’s no use. If our desires have changed, or we sense some drift in our Christian life, and we humble ourselves and repent, then God will once more open His ear to our cry.
The connection between us and God can be so real. I believe that Adam and Eve had a very close relationship with God. Although the Bible doesn’t exactly say it, I like to believe they walked and talked with God, before sin entered the picture. Since sin separates us from God, then repenting of our sin and obeying His word re-unites us back to God. Thus, we can walk and talk with our Creator once more! It can be that personal. But the devil wants us to think that God is far, far away and He doesn’t have a lot of time for us. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth –Psa 145:18.
The Bible tells us to pray always… and to pray without ceasing. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man –Luk 21:36. God wants to be in communication with us all the time!
It’s part of the Haitian culture to pray long, loud, repetitive prayers in church. Some are powerful, but unfortunately, I’ve found that it usually doesn’t carry over to the prayer closet. Praying for the praise of men is a stench to God, while praying in secret opens the heavens.
Could the reason why so many Christians struggle with prayer be because they already have things figured out? They already know what they want out of their day, out of their life? If so, then we have a good idea why so many lives are shipwrecked spiritually. If we cannot submit to God’s will, our prayers will be in vain. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts –Jas 4:3.
I recall a time shortly after I was converted when I was still facing several charges for things I had done before my conversion. I was told that I would serve a minimum of five years in prison. I was not okay with this. I kept asking God to fix it! I kept telling God I couldn’t go to jail because, “I’m different now.” The court hearings dragged on and on. Eventually, I was waiting for the final hearing—the sentencing. As I sat there in the court room, in my troubled thoughts I clearly heard the Lord speak, “Whose will do you want to be done?” I think of Jesus’ words. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? –Joh 18:11.
Suddenly a peace came over me, “God is in control! If I go to prison, it is God’s will! I remember giving it over to God with confidence. A long story short, I went home that day with no prison time. When our will lines up with God’s will, then we will have the mind of Christ, and God promises to answer our prayers in His time and in His way. If God has a specific method of answering our prayers, what will happen? We will love to pray, and we will approach the throne boldly! More importantly, we will pray with much confidence.
Here are a few reasons why Christians stop praying.
1. No time. –Since we are good at what we do, we are very busy. Everything needs to be done, surely prayer can wait until tomorrow. People are too busy.
2. Sin. –The Bible tells us that sin separates us from God. We pray, but it doesn’t seem that He is listening.
3. Discouragement. –We feel defeated and wonder what’s the use. However, falling on our faces in humility is the weapon against discouragement.
4. Too tired. –We fall asleep on our knees. We need to have control over our sleep. Early to bed, early to rise, gives us time to talk to God.
Some people pray as if they are wishing, hoping that someday God will give them what they’re asking for. I was talking with a pastor here in Haiti. I had preached several times at his church, and knew the church was not well. It was a large church of 300 members and having a good time was more important than glorifying God. I asked him how his prayer life was. He said he prays a lot. I then asked him what he prays for. I respected the man and was hoping for a list of the problems he’s having with sin in the church, but he didn’t. He chuckled and said he’s praying for a new Toyota Land Cruiser. “And God will give me one, maybe not today, but someday!”
When we ask according to the will of God, we ask for the same things God wants. I believe that God hears our cries, and when we ask in the name of Jesus, according to the will of God, the world can’t contain all that God wants to do for his people! Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you… –Jas 4:8.
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