Some thoughts about Prayer
It has been asked, “Why is it necessary to do this ‘prayer-thing?’ God will care for the situation as He sees fit no matter what.” Fact is that our Lord set an example of the importance of prayer. Luke 6:12 says: “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

The word “prayer” occurs 114 times in the Bible. Ten of these references are in the 4 Gospels, and 21 are in the remainder of the NT. The word “pray” occurs 313 times, and 39 of these occur in the 4 Gospels, while 27 are in the rest of the NT. Clearly, on many occasions the writers of the Bible thought that prayer was very important. It also makes it clear that the use of prayer is not a Christian “option;” it is absolutely essential.

Campus Pastor Deborah Grant, from Peace Lutheran Church, College Station, Texas observed:

“Prayer is a fundamental part of what it means to be a Christian. God wants us to talk with him . . . [Prayer is an] intercession, asking for God for help for others. The farewell discourses in John’s Gospel are filled with the intercessory prayers of Jesus on our behalf. Do we believe that our prayers for others make a difference? God CHOOSES to be influenced by our prayers on behalf of others. God values a relationship with us and wants us to know that we can participate with him in caring for others in this way. The greatest thing we can do for those we love is to lift them closer to the One who loves them best.” (We thank Pastor Grant for her insights.)

Prayer is a moment to talk to God. It is also a moment when God may talk to us as well. It is a time to listen quietly, and to be moved by standing in God’s presence.

And does prayer change things? The Prayer Chain of our church believes that it does. They would tell you that it radiates their Peace, and their Love. It lifts the person in their prayers before the throne of God, asking Him to deal with the situation in the way only He knows that is best.

Quite possibly our Lord would approve of Alfred Tennyson’s comment in his 1859 poem, The Idylls of the King, when he wrote: “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

. . . and now a “Self-Test” question:

When was the last time that you (or I) prayed?