Imagine
a huge building filled with thousands of rooms. Inside those rooms are all the good
possibilities for your future—job opportunities, provision of every kind, guidance,
and wisdom to make right decisions. The problem is all the doors are locked and
you can’t get in. But suppose someone puts a supernatural key in your hand that
will open every door. If you don’t
use the key, the doors won’t open for you.
That’s
a picture of how prayer works. God won’t automatically do everything for us.
Instead, He has given us a key to use, which is prayer. Prayer is a privilege God gives us where He lets
us participate in His will being accomplished on earth (Matt. 6:10). However, if you don’t use the “prayer key” the door
will remained closed for some of God’s blessings. Here are two beneficial reasons
to pray.
Reason #1 Prayer is how we develop a relationship with
God.
What if prayer didn’t exist? Suppose God didn’t
provide any way to contact Him when we’re in trouble. The Lord says, “There’s
no such thing as prayer. You cannot talk to Me and I won’t talk to you. I will
not intervene in your affairs. If you want help…sorry, you’re on your own!”
You would “not have a prayer.” The good news is God does want us to pray
so we can get to know Him in a better way. (How often do you pray when you're not in church?)
Prayer
is connecting our heart to God’s heart.
Prayer isn’t measured by how many words we say because you can talk non-stop but never really communicate with someone. Prayer is having a heart-to-talk with God,
letting Him know what’s on your heart. Psalm 62:8 says, “Pour out your heart before Him.”
Reason #2 Some things will not happen unless we pray.
Why
should we pray if it makes no difference? James 4:2 tell us “you do not
have because you do not ask.” If we don’t use the key
the door won’t open. God can change our circumstances if we will call out to Him for help.
Sennacherib,
the king of Assyria, was threatening to conquer Jerusalem. King Hezekiah knew
he would be defeated unless God stopped Sennacherib. Hezekiah prayed that God would
deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrian army. God answered him, “Because you have prayed to Me about
Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you” (2 Kings 19:20 NASB). God came
to his rescue because he prayed. If the king hadn’t prayed Jerusalem would
have been destroyed. Prayer brought something to pass on earth that would not
have happened if he hadn’t prayed.
Prayer
can make a difference in what happens in your life. Are you asking Him for help
and guidance? Don’t give up. Keep praying and don’t lose heart. God has placed
in your hand the key, but it’s up to you to put it in the doorknob. To be continued (3 more reasons) next
week…
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