Prayer as a Means of Grace

Prayer, a Means of Grace

I'm certain, most of us, if not all would agree with the assessment that prayer is one of the greatest of privileges God has given to believers in Christ Jesus. However, even with this truthful assessment, we would probably agree; though disparagingly, that the average Christian neglects the discipline of prayer more often than we’d like to admit or own up to. In our day, prayer seems to be talked about a lot but practiced little.  A noteworthy theologian, J.C. Ryle once said: “Yes: few pray! It is just one of the things assumed as a matter of course, but seldom practiced; a thing which is everybody’s business, but in fact, hardly anybody performs.”   Well, if this statement is still true today, I would love to gander at the many missed opportunities by Christians to engage our God, and boldly come to the throne of grace where we may experience the mercies of his goodness and kindness. I wonder how perhaps the neglect of this sacred privilege to commune with God and talk to him on the behalf of the church and community has suffered because of a lack of prayer?

Now to be fair, this is not to say, the saints are not praying at all. However, the greater observation is that fewer of us believers are praying consistently, fervently, and perhaps effectively. Not only is prayer a privilege, but it’s a discipline that God expects us to perform. Martin Luther a praying man, and reformer express God’s expectation of prayer in this way, “ As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.” The call then is to return to the business of prayer in its varying forms -urgent warfare, intercessory, praise-worthy, supplicative, and thankful prayers.

But what is the cause of the waning of our prayers as believers or the desire to pray? May I offer another observation?  Much of this prayerlessness can be attributed to the busyness of life. In spite of all the modern conveniences that are designed to lessen the tyranny of busyness, dismantle and simplify our overwhelmed schedules and bring more meaning to our activities, we are still tired, weary, and overrun people. There’s a restlessness that is pervasive in our society, and it has seeped into the lives of many believers. We spent our time on what we value most, and often prayer is not on that list. Our priorities are skewed! One would think that the state of our lives…the world in general, would bring us to our knees and to the throne of God more frequently and consistently. But, if Ryle’s quote still speaks true a century and a half later, and we are seldom practitioners and performers with a vibrant and persistent praying life we are missing out on the means of grace we have through prayer. 

Prayer is a means of grace to us, in that, our heavenly Father promises to hear the prayers of his people. Scripture gives the believer a blessed assurance that God comes to our aid through this means. When we pray it’s the Father’s promise to give us grace and the Holy Spirit when we rely on him and completely trust him to carry all of our cares. As we pray, we experience the remarkable acts of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. We also gain access to the ear of the Almighty. Hence, it is the believer’s joy and a priority to establish and maintain a life of prayer. Prayer becomes, whether private or public a place of power. “Little prayer, little power, much prayer much power.” - EM Bounds.

Beloved, prayer is our response to God for the grace we have received in his word.  God gives grace to those who pray. Our Lord, in response to his disciples asking how to pray, replied, “when you pray…”  Jesus expects us to pray (Matt 6:5,6,7,9; Luke 11:9, 18:1). In addition to the words of Jesus, the NT has the unmistakable expectation of our heavenly Father regarding our praying lives. Colossians 4:2 tells us to “Continue steadfastly in prayer”. Believers who continue steadfastly in prayer are committed to pursuing a Christlike life in which a praying life is a priority. When you make something a priority, you sacrifice for it, you’ll give it time. God expects Christians to be devoted to prayer.  1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing” follows the same train of thought as Col.4:2; however, while Colossians calls us to the activity of prayer; 1 Thessalonians brings our attention to a relationship, that is, the relationship with the one to whom we are praying.  God’s grace affords the believer the access to have a consistent and unbroken relationship with our heavenly Father.

The urgent need for the believer of our day is that our conviction and motivation for prayer be revived. Prayer is a means of grace given to the children of a loving Father, who desires for us to take pleasure in seeking and communicating with him. Prayer is one of the ways we get to enjoy God and take pleasure in his presence, finding all we need for life and godliness. Does your prayer life need a revival? Perhaps, we can start by retraining our hearts to enjoy our God by talking to him, and reminding ourselves that Prayer opens that door to enter his presence where there is fullness of joy, and pleasures at His right hand forevermore. (Psalm 16:11). So, I’ll close with the statement made at the onset of this journal entry, “ Prayer is one of the greatest of privileges God has given to believers in Christ Jesus.” Because of this grand privilege that we have through Jesus, we are able to “cast all our cares on the Lord because he cares for us.” (1 Peter 5:7) Precious ones, God’s care for us includes his hearing and answering our prayers. Here are some gracious reminders from scripture:

 James 5:16  

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

 Isaiah 55: 6,7  

 "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Philippians 4: 6, 7  

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

1 John 5:14, 15

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him."

Beloved, we have a gracious God who throughout scripture offers himself to us and comes to our rescue at the ready. He supplies sufficient grace to help bear us up under the pressures of life. There is no worry, anxiety, cares, or fears that the LORD will not hear. No plea insignificant or issue minor in his view, we can take it to the LORD in prayer and wait patiently for him to renew our strength, give us a better perspective, heal our mind-body, and spirit, restore relationships, and fill our heart with joy. 

Yours in prayer.