Just as a nation raises up an Air Force, God desires to raise up a Prayer Force in His kingdom and church. Every believer is called to be a person of prayer. Prayer is a weapon, a gift, and a privilege every believer has been given by our generous and almighty heavenly Father. We are commanded in Matthew 7:7-8 to
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
The Word of God also tells us to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17) while Mark 11:17 tells us,
Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”
Clearly, these and other passages in the Word of God point out that prayer is to be a very high priority for the people of God. We are called to live lives given to prayer.
In view of the fact that most all of us have had some great and awesome answers to prayer, why don’t we pray more? Why are we not more committed to giving much more time and devotion to prayer?
One of the key reasons is that there is an ongoing battle by the kingdom of darkness against the Prayer Force of God. It is deliberate, strategic and intense – every day. Of all the things that the Devil and his demonic hosts come against, prayer is a priority. Why? Because faithful prayer on the part of the church is one of the most dangerous and effective weapons against the Devil and the armies of darkness. And when faithfully carried out, prayer shuts down the work of the kingdom of darkness. It tears down walls, strongholds, and fortresses daily as God’s people faithfully and diligently pray for the work of the kingdom of God. So, from a strategy standpoint, stopping prayer is a top priority in the kingdom of darkness.
What should be our response to this reality? One response is to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). Ask God to help you with this by praying daily for your own prayer life! I would encourage every believer to pray the prayer of Jabez daily (1 Chronicles 4:10). Also, pray faithfully that the Lord would anoint you with the Spirit of prayer which is the Holy Spirit! So many important things will be done in the kingdom of God as His people spend the time in prayer that we should.
Clearly, we must pray for ourselves and our families. Yet our prayer time needs to go far beyond our own immediate needs. We should pray for the priorities of the kingdom of God, like praying for our leaders in both government and church. We should make it a priority to pray to the Lord to send forth laborers into His harvest. So many other people and issues locally, nationally, and even globally are crying out to the faithful for prayer. Let’s all get serious about doing the critical work of praying without ceasing.
Our goal is not simply to believe in the power of prayer. Our goal is to believe in the God who hears and answers prayer. We are to put our faith and trust in our heavenly Father who has called us to pray. Without question, many of the challenges and problems that we face in our nation and in our world can only be addressed and fixed by God.
Be mindful of this truth: “When we work, we work; when we pray, God works.” (Author unknown). Another perspective is the way John Wesley put it: “God does nothing but in answer to prayer…”
Let’s all faithfully and passionately join the Prayer Force of the kingdom of God. You are greatly needed!
If you would like to receive the very helpful discipleship tool entitled “Kingdom Prayers” simply email us at jparker@afa.net. This is a prayer tool to help build and strengthen your prayer life and help to set it on fire with the Holy Spirit.
