2 Chronicles 7:13–18 ‘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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’ (v14)
Prayer is always about putting God first. We live in an age obsessed with itself. Fascinated with self-realisation and psychometrics, delving ever deeper into our assumed personality, it’s easy to think that the world’s future benefit has something to do with me. Whilst it may, it’s not perhaps as much as we’d like to think. John the Baptist had the right understanding: our ‘I’ must decrease to make room for a growing awareness of God’s presence and reality (John 3:30). The steps that lead us into prayer are simple; to know the life and lordship of Jesus and to submit to His rule. This is the heart attitude we must adopt if we are to approach God.
The objective of prayer is twofold. God hears our prayers and consistently forgives our many sins, the waywardness that seeks constantly to distract us from contemplating God and serving His will with our lives. Second, we carry responsibility that through our prayers we are consistently seeking to see the healing of the world in which we live. This is a critical part of our Christian service on earth, looking to God for wholeness throughout society, both in the UK and globally. God’s invitation includes us all, since we need to travel no further than to our knees to secure God’s purpose on earth. Consistent prayer captures God’s attention and fertilises the earth in preparation for a harvest of godliness. It is the greatest contribution any of us can make.
SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Isa. 55:1–11; Jer. 29:1–9; Acts 4:23–31; 1 Pet. 5:1–11.
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, I choose to submit to You in every thought, word and action, and pray for the healing of the nations. Amen.’
