Why Pray?

James Colvin — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:42:45 GMT

adapted from The Source, ihop.org

Without understanding a clear vision for prayer, it is easy to quickly get distracted and turn to other, seemingly more â€˜productiveâ€™ ways to do ministry.

When you answer this question it will fuel the fire and passion to sustain a life of radical pursuit of the Lord for the rest of your life. The Lord is raising up a movement of people who not only have a passion for prayer, but to consistently feed the fire of prayer for the next decades.

I am by no means attempting to cover all the reasons of why we should pray, but offering a few reasons, hopefully enough for you to live a life of prayer.

Throughout history, all of the major revivals started with the small flames of prayer meetings. Whether a simple two or three gathering for a few hours a week or several hundred coming together for 24/7 prayer, prayer has always preceded the great revivals. Evan Roberts labored in the place of prayer, sometimes by himself and other times with others. He remained in the place of prayer to see a great spiritual awakening, he writes, "for ten or eleven years I have prayed for revival. I could sit up all night to read or talk about revivals." The result?

"The earnings of workmen, instead of being squandered on drink and vice, were now bringing great joy to their families. Outstanding debts were being paid by thousands of young converts. Restitution was the order of the day. The gambling and alcohol business lost their trade and the theaters closed down from lack of patronage. Football during this time was forgotten by both players and fans, though nothing was mentioned from the pulpits about it. The people had new lives and new interests. Political meetings were canceled or abandoned. They seemed completely out of the question since nobody was interested. The political leaders from parliament in London abandoned themselves to the revival meetings. The man-made denominational barriers completely collapsed as believers and pastors worshiped their majestic Lord together."

The Lord is sounding the alarm for an army of â€œEvan Robertsâ€, those who will labor in the place of prayer and fasting in order to pursue something greater. The Welsh Revival of 1904 is but a foretaste of the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Will you answer the alarm to pray in an extravagant way to see a mighty demonstration of the Holy Spirit on your campus?

People always make time for what is most important in their lives. It's really true too. I have heard so many people tell me that they would love to pray but that they just don't have the time. But if you look at their schedules, they always seem to have plenty of time for friends, their boyfriend/girlfriend, etc. I promise you, the first time you start saying to your significant other, "I'm sorry, I want to spend time together with you but I don't have time," you've just signed the death sentence on that relationship. Are we trying to guilt you into prayer? No, we just want to bring clarity to the fact that prayer is a choice, just like everything else in your life. If you don't prioritize it, it won't happen.

The Lord releases wisdom to those who ask for it. The creator of the universe has infinite resources available, and He is more than willing to bestow power (and by power, i mean the power to bring about change) to those that are seeking HIS will, not their own agenda. Why pray? Try it and find out.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Global Prayer

Why Pray?