What Really Motivates Us To Pray?

14 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 (New King James Version)

As we move into 2010, I want to spend much time motivating you to pray. If you really understood the massive benefits of prayer, you would do it more. James 5:13 says, "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise."Even those who never pray during ordinary times will pray earnestly during suffering, because they urgently need help. Psalm 50:15 says, "...and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." When we call upon God in tribulation, God will deliver us. John Bunyan said, "Trials and tribulation make us seek God."

VALUE OF TRIALS
In normal times, people do not seek God, but they cling to God during trials. Babies do not need their mother if they are full. Hunger makes them cry for their mother. When your children who are far away suddenly write, email, or call you, saying, "I love you, Mom and Dad. I respect you," then you should know that they need money! If everything is okay, your children may not think of you. You may not hear from them even once a year. However, in the midst of suffering, they become busy, giving you several calls, and sending you frequent emails.We also seek God and cry out to Him in the midst of suffering. Martin Luther said, "The most peaceful time without trials is the most serious crisis, for people are tempted to forget about God."

CRISIS LEADS TO PRAYER
Your easy life can be the most tempting trial. If there is no trial but only peace, people tend to forget God and not pray. Therefore, a period without trials can be more threatening than a period with suffering. If there are trials and suffering, people become broken, obedient, careful, and cry out to God. Otherwise, they tend to be arrogant, haughty, and self-indulgent. C.S. Lewis said, "Why does suffering exist? Most people are indifferent to the voice of God until some crisis comes to them. Suffering is God's loudspeaker through which He delivers His will to them." God shouts through His loudspeaker, "Listen to me!" Through suffering, God shouts with a loud voice to make us repent and follow His will. Before suffering, we tend to turn a deaf ear to God. Without suffering, we will not obey God. Don't think for a moment, Bernard prays because he is so religious or spiritual. To be totally transparent, I often pray mostly because I need God's help during the crisis of life. Suffering makes us cry out to God and seek Him in earnest prayer.A western proverb says that there is no atheist in a trench. On the battlefield, when an enemy's bullets begin to pour into trenches, both Christian soldiers and non-Christians prostrate themselves crying out, "God, save me!" Non-Christians do not even mention God in peaceful times, but they frantically seek God in their terror as bullets fly everywhere. Why not let your current crisis motivate you to pray?

THE MODEL PRAYER
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6: 9-13 NKJV

Praying for God's best for you in 2010,

Bernard