Why Not Pray?
The goal of a Christian man is that he may become a man of prayer. Prayer is aligning our hearts with God’s heart. Why do men struggle so much with prayer and keeping a prayer journal? One reason is that men are afraid of being alone with God in the “Inner Chamber.” Another excuse is that they are too busy. They begin well with good intentions but the cares of the world choke their desire to spend time with God in prayer. Martin Luther said, I have so much to do today that I must spend the first three hours in prayer. Another excuse men use is apathy and complacency. Another is a fear of failure… That I’m not disciplined enough to pray. I don’t want to make a commitment to prayer that I’ll break. Another excuse is being afraid to be found out that I’m not the man that God intended me to be. These men fear transparency and vulnerability before God and before their brothers in Christ. Another excuse for failure to pray is the fear of being rejected for disclosing secrets to others and to God. These men fear that someone may find their secret prayer journal and use it to expose their deep dark secrets.
According to 1 Tim 2: 1-8, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Paul the Apostle was training his “dear son in the faith” Timothy to be the next shepherd of God’s church. Paul had been persecuted and pursued because of his stand for the truth of the Word of God. Those who had not been through trials and tribulation and persecution became “soft” in their believing. They lost their heart for evangelism because they forsook the priority of prayer.. To share the weakness of my flesh is to lay down my request at the foot of the cross to allow God to intervene. Without the power of God, we are nothing. It’s not about me, it’s about him. No man is in the dark so deep as the one who thinks he’s in the light but he’s really in the dark.
God’s grace always trumps the works and accomplishments of man. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. All of our goodness is filthy rags compared to the righteous robes of Jesus Christ. A prideful heart cannot pray. Repentance is to run toward God in prayer. Repentance is turning from our sin and unto the Lord… Are you weak and heavy laden, encumbered with a load of care? Jesus, Savior still our refuge; Take it to the Lord in prayer. In his arms he’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.
God keeps no record of wrongs done. There is no account of our sin in God’s record book. When we were born again, Jesus Christ who knew no sin balanced the account of our debt of sin by payment of his innocent blood that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. A famous picture depicts a shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulders. The shepherd found one of his precious lambs who had wondered away from the flock and had fallen into a ditch. The lamb could not get up and was completely vulnerable. A loving shepherd will break the legs of a precious lamb to keep it from wondering off and to save it from predators. He will then throw the lamb around his shoulders. The shepherd carries the lamb until the lamb’s legs heal. The lamb after such intimacy with his shepherd will be forever bound to follow his shepherd. Sometimes our Lord “breaks our legs” so that he can carry us and heal us by reconciling ourselves back to him so that we’ll forever be bound to follow him.
Pray for all men everywhere. God is no respecter of persons… There is neither Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, citizen, foreigner, bond nor free. God is, however a respecter of conditions. The conditions are praying and believing according to his Word. Prayer and supplication is drawing our hearts close to God’s heart. Intercession is to bring others to God’s throne in prayer. For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. For we are called to be a royal priesthood to bring others before God.
Pray for kings and all who are in authority over you that ye may live a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty. The government is not our savior, our salvation is only in Christ, the word of God in the flesh. We are not subject to man’s law… We are subject to the law of God. My times are in thy hands despite the darkness of this fallen world. When we bring those in authority to God in prayer, our Lord will intercede. The prayer is not to glorify the government, but to glorify God. According to 2 Thessalonians 3:1, Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael