Prayer keeps Battles Small
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Thinking of an email I once sent a friend, reminded me of some statistical facts and other thoughts that I would like to relate today.
Have you ever considered if one spends 10 minutes a day praying and does that for 70 years which would make one live to at least 75(for most, most do not actually pray before 5), this would add up to 255500 minutes or 4258.3 hours in prayer. Here is the reality check. That is less than 6 months of a man’s life spent talking with his heavenly Father. Thing is, 10 minutes a day is a broad exaggeration for most that would more than likely be a weeks worth for many. Here is another reality check. Most earthly fathers spend less than that talking to or listening to their own children, wives, friends, etc., etc.. The worst part is the part with one’s children. Most men have no choice but to listen to their wives because the wife will see to it.(a little humor there). But all humor aside most children become exhausted with talking to their father because the father actually never really listens but rather chooses that short time to do things different than listen. But one can rant on that truth forever and still not bring home a point that often children are rebellious for more than natural reasons. It is often by the very hand of the one that wonders why his children do not talk to him any more.
Thing is, God the father is not like that. Still to only talk to God 10 minutes a day is a strange thing to realize One is guilty of such neglect . Some tell us that prayer can be taught. That is true but the desire to pray, perhaps, can not be taught but is rather instilled by the Gift of the Holy Spirit. There is much discussion about when, how, how much and so forth, one acquires the Holy Spirit. According to what I can see in Luke 11, knowing how to pray is something that a child of God can ask for. (Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.) Perhaps, so are the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But that is another thought.
The ability to pray in power seems to be a Gift. I am not saying that some are not Given the Gift of prayer without asking but as with wisdom, if a man desires it and does not have it seems all one has to do is ask and he will receive if it is asks in sincerity and in a desire to use that gift to serve God. Wow. 10 minutes a day equaling less than 6 months in a life time. That sure does not seem like much time. No wonder so many have trouble praying or talking to God. But perhaps the fault lies more in the lack of ability than desire. But then again perhaps the lack of desire to have the ability is the biggest problem. What is even worse many seem to be teaching and to be thinking that it is a waste of time. God is going to do what God is going to do regardless. Well, I will not get into that argument because it is like trying to prove there is such a thing as a one ended stick. All I know is the word “Availeth” used as a noun or a transitive verb indicates a power to sway or persuade. If one has a problem with that tell James, don’t not me. Still, prayer seems to have become more of a ritualistic effort than of one climbing into the lap of a Heavenly Father who has his arms open waiting and hoping(in a sense) that his child will stop in for a visit. In fact it seems to have become a thing we do at bedtime, church time and meal time. But there is a positive aspect to keeping appointment such as these, in prayer. In fact, a thing one might consider in the great battles one faces as a man/woman/Christian/human; the greatest is keeping appointments in a devotional sense. That may, very well be in prayer times, or even in bible study, church attendance, time with family, family devotion, work etc., etc.. Here is what one might consider an absolute in winning such battles. The greatest difficulty one might have in one’s walk with the LORD is one’s prayer life. Satan knows that time in prayer is a direct connection to the Father. That has to be true if the veil was actually rent. That has to be true if one can approach boldly into the presents of the Father under the imputed righteousness of Christ Jesus. Many other truths can be noted here but are not actually necessary to make this point. This is why I actually believe that the father of all Lies tries his best and is so successful in making prayer the hardest part of a Christian’s devotional life. This is why one might tend to believe that Christians do not actually like to pray in a church setting or in a private setting. Satan knows that prayer is the greatest power one has. Above wisdom, above knowledge, above all things.
So with that short, pre-thought, explanation one might just consider that of all the appointments one should keep in the battle against evil or in life period, prayer is the most important. Reason being if one misses that appointment all the other battles(some mentioned above) always grow greater and greater. One must understand. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man(actually does) availethmuch; keeping battles small.
David
Ps. Fathers, listen to your children. If you are not relating truth to them in instruction and answer to their questions or conversation, there is another, more than anxious to take your place, who is even more willing to tell them a lie.
