Prayer

In Public

When I am called on for public prayer, I sometimes ask - “Who I am praying too?” Am I like the one who stood and prayed within himself that he was not like other people? (Luke 18:11) Or do I pray to God for his blessings to worship Him? (Luke 18:13) It is a blessing to worship our God, don't you know? Sometimes I have no words (Romans 8:26-27). Afterwards I wonder if God considers my effort as a prayer. (Ephesians 1:6) Who am I to approach the living, creator God but a worm of the dust, a hell bound sinner asking for mercy, with no righteousness of my own? (Isaiah 6:5) When I am called on to pray, I ask God to give me the spirit of prayer so that what I say will be the will of God and not my own will. (Matthew 6:10) Sometimes I will hide behind someone taller than me so that the preacher will not call on me to pray. I have gotten up and gone to the men's room at the end of a sermon to avoid being asked to pray. Yet when God blesses me I can almost shout prayerful praise to my God for seeing His truth taught to His people (Mark 11:9). Brother Daniel in the Old Testament prayed three times a day and was placed in a den of Lions for doing so (Daniel 6:10). Just recently a football coach prayed after a football game and was fired for it. Both were delivered in the end. Daniel left the den of lions untouched (Daniel 6:22) and the coach got his job back.

The Vitality of Prayer

Prayer is vital in a child of God’s life (Ephesians 6:18). Without prayer we cannot receive the full blessing of comfort available to us from our heaven Father (Luke 11:9). Prayer is a place to flee in troubled times, a place to thank God for our deliverances here in this world (Psalm 46:1). Who can save us as we walk in this sinful world but the one who has given us eternal life when we were yet his enemy? (Romans 5:6) I sometimes want to pray but have no words just a deep-down need in to be close to my God and a want to feel his presence in my life. I cannot explain my need, nor do I understand why it is so (Romans 8:26-27). But I do know that one day I will understand and will be able to see Him face to face and then fall to my knees in true worship (I Corinthians 13:12).

- Sonny Bonner