And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18 NIVUK
I would like you to imagine that you meet an old friend after a long time. This old friend has been single for a long time and now, at last, she says she has a husband.
You, of course, are curious. You want to know more.
So the conversation goes like this:
'Do you have a picture of your husband?'
'No.'
'So what does he look like? Can you describe him?'
'No.'
'What's he like to talk to? Is he good fun?'
'I don't know.'
'Why?'
'I've never talked to him.'
'Really? What about email or text messages? Morse code? Have you communicated with him at all?'
'No. Not at all.'
'Have you even met him?'
'No.'
'So you don't know what he looks like, you've never talked with him or communicated with him in any way and you've never met him, but you're sure he's your husband. How?'
'I just know. I have this warm feeling in my heart.'
'Are you sure that isn't indigestion?'
Absurd, isn't it? If anyone ever talked this way to you, you'd recommend they speak to a psychiatrist very quickly.
Yet, for some unknown reason, for some people, it's absolutely acceptable to call themselves a Christian and never pray - except maybe if they are in a desperate situation. And even then, as a last resort.
Really?
I need to burst your bubble. You are not following Jesus. He's nothing more for you than a Divine insurance policy.
Saying that you're a Christian because you pray to Jesus when you're in trouble instead of Allah or Buddha or Krishna is like saying that you worship your doctor because you go to him when you feel sick. It makes no sense.
You are not following Jesus. You're expecting Him to follow you and clean up your mess. There is a world of difference between the two.
A real Christian prays, and prays consistently, regularly and passionately.
But there are other really important aspects of their prayer life that we must take note of.
It's genuine. And we know it's genuine because it's like a glacier. We might signs on the surface of it when they pray in church. But its roots go way down deep in personal, doors-closed, private spirituality. Their prayers are not for performance or display. No, they're for a deep connection with God that shows itself in how they live.
Being a Christian is not just about who you pray to, it's about when you pray and how.
Let me explain what I mean. Jesus wrote these words:
‘And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:5-6 NIVUK
Do you see it? True Christian prayer has its roots in private times with God, away from prying eyes. Away from the fickle gaze of public opinion.
Our neighbourhood sits on land that once belonged to a Duke. When the Duke signed the deal to sell the land, he did so only on the basis that a certain percentage of the land he'd sold would remain as open green space, and that the ancient oak trees would not be cut down.
A true praying Christian is like an oak tree. They are strong and resilient. That's because they have their roots in the secret, hidden place.
In fact, it's these secret prayers that make us strong and resilient, like Daniel in the face of deadly, unrelenting persecution (Daniel 6:10). Prayer is the conduit through which peace floods our hearts, even in the midst of terrifying turmoil (Philippians 4:6-7). Prayer is the means through which we swap our heavy, ill-fitting burdens that we were never meant to carry for the yoke God designed for us (Matthew 11:28-30).
On countless occasions throughout the Gospels and Acts we see prayers offered and answered, people healed, buildings shaken, hearts changed, doors opened and closed. We see ordinary men be filled with the Holy Spirit and become mighty leaders and orators. We see men and women who let their Saviour down become strong in the face of serious danger and face death with miraculous courage.
We see that prayer makes a difference. But not always in the way we might think.
You see, prayer is often depicted as wrestling with God like Jacob did (Genesis 32:24-30). But this is an entirely incorrect view of prayer. Jacob wasn't praying while he was wrestling. No, while he was wrestling... he was wrestling! Prayer isn't even mentioned at all in this passage!
Prayer is not a means for us to strong-arm God into getting what we want. Neither is it a magic incantation or good luck spell or a religious ritual for good things to happen. This isn't how real Christians approach prayer. Anyone who does approach prayer in this way is setting themselves up for a very sore disappointment.
After all, even King David himself, a king who was known as being a man after God's heart (Acts 13:22), could not change God's mind on at least one very difficult occasion (2 Samuel 12:15-23).
So if prayer is so important and so effective in the life of a real Christian, what is it?
Prayer is our means of communicating with God. Prayer is how we talk to Him, and also how we put ourselves in a state to be able to hear from Him.
Using prayer only to get stuff is like having a relationship with someone who only speaks to you when they want something. Would you feel happy in a relationship like that? I doubt it.
That's why prayer for a Christian is not just about bringing a big 'shopping list' of worries and concerns to God. It's how they meet with God.
And that has to change something. Meeting with God caused Moses' face to shine (Exodus 34:29-35). Moses, like countless other figures in Biblical history, had his life changed by a meeting with God (Exodus 3:1-4:17).
That trend continues throughout the New Testament too.
In fact, the One Person who doesn't need to change - Jesus Christ Himself - often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16).
So a real Christian - a real follower of Jesus Christ - must do the same. They must pray. The Bible is very clear on that (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:13-16).
But that prayer must be effective (James 5:16). Sometimes that will be because God answers it miraculously and intervenes in our situation. More often, it will be because God intervenes in us and changes us.
A praying Christian is like an oak tree. You won't see their spiritual roots as they reach for God in the solitary places, out of sight. But you will see the strength and resilience it produces.
A real Christian is a praying Christian. And it should show.
Questions
1) 'Being a Christian is not just about who you pray to, it's about when you pray and how.' What is it about how you pray and when you pray that shows you are a Christian?
2) How often do you pray? Is it enough?
3) Do you think your prayer life has any effect on the rest of your life?
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