The Vitality of Praying—Part Eight
Praying is not just for getting things from God; it is especially vital for personal communication with God
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:17-18, NKJV)
As we continue our discussion on the centrality and critical nature of praying, we shall look inward. It is usual for people to display their praying prowess in public, yet God's purpose for prayer is not for public display but private personal communication with us. We shall, therefore, devote this part to personal private praying.
Prayer is for personal edification
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. (1 Corinthians 14:4, NKJV)
Prayer is, first and foremost, for personal development and spiritual growth. If you are not built up personally, how do you want to build other people up? A person who is not developed, but seeks to develop others by preparing messages, praying for church service and programmes, is like somebody seeking to build for others but having no experience in building.
Little wonder, Paul said,
I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27, NKJV)
Athletes who receive laurels practice secretly—away from the public—but their victories are public knowledge. We must engage with God in private personal praying and thus build ourselves up.
It would be best if you were not like a signpost pointing others to a location but going nowhere yourself. Instead, like tour guides, we must take people to places we have, ourselves, been to several times.
Private personal praying results in public victories
The public victories we witness in Scripture and everyday living are usually the result of the private praying of some people. For example, Elijah's prayers were not typically public, but the results of those prayers were. When he told Ahab that there would be no rain until he says there would be, it was because he had God's word on the matter. He was not just venting off.
Jesus warned us not to be hypocritical by praying in public while ignoring private personal praying (Matthew 6:5-6). Jesus said that when we pray in private, God, who sees in secret, will reward us openly.
We do not need to publicly show how well we can speak to God or about God. Rather, God will show how much we are communing with Him as He gives us victories in the view of all. We must not succumb to impressing people with prayers in public. We ought to please God, and He is not impressed by our high-sounding words acclaimed as prayer.
God always draws near to the humble individual praying in their closet, not those who boast about their praying prowess (James 4:6-10). He draws near to those who recognise their need for Him as their source of daily victory (Matthew 5:3).
Prophesy is the result of private praying
Although prophecy speaks to the church about God's mind, it results from private praying. Praying to God is not all about our issues but talking to God about others.
When we pray for others—intercede—in private, God gives us a message for them. When we relay God's message to those people, they usually tell us something about their challenges or difficulties. We can then take their message back to God in prayer. Thus, we have a complete prayer cycle, in which we talk to God about others, He tells us what to say to them, we tell them what God has said, then we go back to God with what they have said, and God again tells us what to say to them, and so on. This prayer cycle is how prophecy occurs as God speaks to people through the praying person.
Thus the role of the prophet is to tell people God's mind and relay to God their response. Prophecy is not telling people what you think they should hear or current political and social events or even world affairs; it is giving a message from God to people.
Today, preaching is prophecy. Indeed, you should not preach what you have not received from God. And you cannot receive a message from God when you are not praying in private!
Praying without godliness is vain
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV)
To engage in prayer without living in holiness and righteousness and by God's power is a meaningless venture. You cannot be praying, and godliness is not your pursuit. How is it that we want God to do something in our country, city, company, church, but we want to continue to do evil? Such a prayer is a waste of time and effort!
When John the Baptist was named, his father, deaf and dumb throughout his wife's pregnancy, finally regained his hearing and speech. And being in the Spirit, he prophesied God's promise that:
we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. (Luke 1:74-75, NKJV)
We are not delivered to live as we want to, but as God wants. Indeed, the Holy Spirit says,
He [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:15, NKJV)
Therefore, our praying must honour the One who died for us, as we live for Him and no longer for ourselves. So, should we no longer pray for ourselves? Absolutely not. We make requests for ourselves as it hinges on our walk with God and as He leads, yet, we must never be consumed with ourselves.
Praying without godly living is abhorrent to God. God does not answer the prayers of sinners if those prayers are not about repentance (John 9:31).
The power of private praying manifests in our lifestyle
Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen. (James 5:16, ERV)
We cannot claim the grace of God and live contrary to the teaching thereof. The Bible says that:
the grace of God …. teaches us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-12, NKJV)
No matter how long and fervent a wicked person prays, their lot will be the judgment of God that comes upon sinners. The prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (four hundred and fifty in number) cried aloud and even cut themselves, but there was no answer (1 Kings 18:22-29)!
Praying is not about how loud you are or the renown you have gained with people; it is based on God’s righteousness. Thus, God will hear a humble and repentant sinner, rather than someone who is always in church meetings, giving high-sounding prayers, yet living unrighteously (Luke 18:10-14).
Therefore, God tells us to turn from our wicked ways if we want Him to hear our prayers. If you are praying and not seeing results, you ought to ponder your ways: are you walking as God desires? Are you doing what God wants?
A praying person can still have personal issues
One of the strange things about praying persons is that they are not immune from life's challenges. They may wrestle with God—a euphemism for prayer—and gain victory over issues, yet, contend with personal problems of their own.
Elijah was a man like any other person. He was not super-human; he was human like any other human being. Elijah was not a special man besides being a praying person, and he had his fair share of life's challenges.
Elijah neither had a wife nor wore fanciful clothing; his diet was nothing dainty—essentially locust and honey. Elijah was an itinerant prophet who lived mostly in the wilderness—no luxurious abode. He even ran away from Jezebel when threatened by her (1 Kings 19:1-3). Yet, his prayer focus was not on his issues but the wholesale sinfulness of Israel (1 Kings 17:1; 18:21).
Elijah had personal issues, yet God used him to bring the people to Him because he was a praying man whose focus was God-ward. Elijah prayed earnestly, and it did not rain for three and a half years. And then he prayed again after three and a half years, and God responded, giving rain. You see, Elijah's heart was toward God, and his prayers revealed it. Elijah's pursuit was God, not his private purpose or plans. God's will was uppermost in Elijah's heart. Hence, when God wanted to bring rain to the nation, Elijah returned to Israel rather than seek the safety and pleasure of his then domicile.
Like Elijah, we must focus on God, and if He decides to deal with our issues, good. If not, good! (Matthew 6:24-33)
Pray until you get results
When you set yourself to pray God’s will from a heart subscribed to doing it, God will hear you (1 John 5:14-15). God's will must be on the front burner of your life.
When the disciples returned from the Mount of Olives, they went to the Upper Room and set themselves to pray unto God (Acts 1:13ff). They prayed, not once or a few times, but continually—until the Holy Spirit came.
We, likewise, must keep praying until God's will is done, or until God says, "It is done!" We must learn to pray until there is a breakthrough. For instance, when you see how things are in your nation, city, community, or church, go to God and ask Him about His will on these matters. And as you pray, God will make known His mind to you on the issue, and if He permits you, you can relay such to those concerned.
Praying is non-partisan
Do not get caught up in the popular culture or partisanship; focus on what God is focused on. Soon, you will experience God speaking to you about national and even international issues, not for self-acclaim, but so that you can partner with Him through private personal praying to resolve the problems.
Sadly, in the world today, those most guilty of causing division and strife are Christians. And this is because they are not praying, and therefore, ignorant of God's will. Many Christians act like they are special, and all others are condemned. But that is pride—an attitude that drives God away!
God is interested in the souls of all men and wants us to call on Him on behalf of people who do not know their left from their right (Jonah 4:1-11)! In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, we are urged by the Holy Spirit to pray for all men, including leaders (whether or not they are Christians). God wants all men to be saved, and He wants us to live in peace here on earth. This twin goal can only be achieved when we pray, as God directs.
Let us also remember that Jesus said,
"When you pray" (Matthew 6:5-7, NKJV)
not "If you pray". The Lord wants us to know that praying is not a choice but a matter of course. Praying is mandatory. So, let us return to praying to God as our mission, and we shall receive a clear and express vision of God’s will.