The Arena Of Prayer
Helen Francis
Recently I had a phone call with a Christian friend of mine. We caught up on news about family and mutual friends but inevitably the conversation turned to bigger issues - the state of the world, the problems we faced, our spiritual lives, the difficulties of growing older - and at one point the phrase was used: "all I can do is pray about it."
It led me to thinking: do I sometimes see prayers in that light?
As if they weren't vital enough to bring about amazing results, results that would change lives and events on the world stage? As though it's a kind of last resort when all else fails? When we can't sort a problem by our own wit or strength, then we can recourse to prayer?
Yet prayer is so powerful! It can bring about things that change the course of lives. We can see that again and again throughout the bible.
Just one example is Hannah's prayer to receive a son (1 Samuel 1). It results in Samuel, a priest so noteworthy in the plan of God that there are two whole books of the bible that bear his name!
Another example is Peter's miraculous escape from prison in the dead of night, despite being chained between two jailers. Acts 12:5 tells us: "Peter was kept in prison but the church prayed without ceasing to God for him." The answer to those prayers was so miraculous even those praying were astonished at the results.
Here's just a few more scriptures that remind us of the power and the importance of prayer:
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.
1 Peter 3:12The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16Jesus tells us: ‘whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours’.
Mark 11:24Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
I find the last one both challenging and helpful. Non-stop prayer is something I aspire to but am a long way off achieving! But I'm helped by the idea that prayer isn't necessarily a formal, on your knees, event. But a continual remembering to draw close to God through out all that happens in a day.
In Ephesians 6:10-18 it tells us to equip ourselves with God's armour but once kitted out we step into the arena of prayer (v18). That is where the results are seen. That throw-away comment in a phone call served to remind me of just how vital prayer is in our daily partnership with God, and what amazing things it can bring about.
May your battle in the arena of prayer be victorious this week, and in all the weeks after.
