Why Pray?

January 14

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On This Date:

1951- The National Football League has its first Pro Bowl Game in Los Angeles CA. .

1952 - The Today Show, the first morning/breakfast television show premieres on NBC.

1973 - Super Bowl VII: The Miami Dolphins defeat the Washington Redskins 14-7. The Dolphins become the first NFL team to go undefeated in a season.

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On the Books:

In Kentucky, it is illegal to sleep in a restaurant.

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Fun Facts:

If you were to spell out the numbers you would get all the way to “one thousand” before you used the letter “a”.

Father’s Day is the day of the year with the most collect calls.

At least 75% of the people that read this will try to lick their elbow.

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If you were to list the qualities necessary for a good relationship on any level, communication would be at or near the top of virtually everyone’s list. It does not matter if we are talking about marriage or friendship, co-workers or the child / parent relationship; we all recognize communication as key to a successful bond.

So it stands to reason that a successful relationship with God will require prayer. God communicates with us in a variety of ways; His written Word, prophetic words, preaching, teaching, wise council, impression upon our spirit, tongues and interpretation and others ways as well - even a still small voice. But really, we have only one way of communicating with God; and that is prayer.

Yet if we are honest, we face a nagging question … why pray? Does it make a difference? Does God just do what He is going to do anyway? Are we wasting our time, are we engaged in a fruitless exercise no better or no more profitable than the mantras chanted over and over by those in Eastern religions. Why Pray? That’s today’s Fuel4thefire.

As we come out of the first full week of 2008 and a week of prayer at Central Assembly, let me give you four reasons to pray. First…

1. Prayer can change the mind of God - In Exodus 32 the children of Israel slipped into idolatry in direct rebellion to God and God made a decision to blot them out of existence. He even told Moses that He would start a new nation that came from him (v.10). But Moses stood in the gap for the people; “And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” (Ex. 32:30-32)

Why Pray? God heard the cry of the heart of His faithful servant and changed His mind.

In another case God was on the verge of sending judgment to the city of Nineveh. As the king and the people of the city asked forgiveness and prayed, the Bible records that “God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not” (Jonah 3:5-10). Did you catch that - God repented - He changed His mind! Why? … because someone prayed. Another reason is …

2. Prayer can change circumstances - Hannah was barren and she prayed, in 1 Samuel 1 it logs her prayer and verse 20 records the answer; “Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

I think of how God has made a way into the public schools for us. From the Seven Project last year at the High school, to the Superior Area Combined Youth Group at the Middle school coming up - God has opened the door. I believe it is as a result of prayer. Why Pray? …because God changes circumstances.

3. Prayer can change people - He will never violate our free will, but He can grant extra opportunities and alter circumstances to influence people. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). How did God work it out so that the Hebrew people were released by Pharaoh? He sent ten plagues and the king’s heart was turned in a way to fulfill the plan of God. Pharaoh could have responded differently anywhere along the way. It took ten plagues for him to relent. God can change people.

4. Prayer can change me - Genuine prayer will stir love within ME for the one I earnestly pray for. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:44-45). It is difficult to be at odds with the one you are asking God to bless. Pray changes ME as I pray for others. Pray fills me with compassion as I pray for the lost. Why Pray? … because prayer changes me.

Three times in the book of Revelation, where we get a behind the scene glimpse into the very throne room of heaven, the prayers of the saints are mentioned: “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.” (Rev.5:

“And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” (Rev.8:3)

“And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand”. (Rev.8:4)

Why pray? The thought that our prayer ascends into the Throne room of heaven is good enough for me. That’s today’s Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys.

Tom