Prayer Life of a man in Christ

A person comes closer to the omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresent God than never when he prays in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The best prayer comes from a strong, inward necessity. When all is calm and well in our lives, we don’t feel the need of prayer.
But when we are pressed near to the stone wall, with no way to look but up, then it’s fervent prayer that wings their way to the throne of God.

It was quite easy for me to get a job in the Indian Air Force and in a well established company at Kuwait. But I felt extreme difficulties to resign my job in the Air Force. It was with the recommendation of the Defense Minister of India I got the discharge from my job in the Air Force. But in 1989, I have prayed earnestly for six months with vehement cries and tears to God who heard my prayers. In July 1989, God had miraculously paved a way to leave my job at Kuwait. He has also saved me from the wrath of Saddam Hussein’s invasion and cruelties upon occupation of Kuwait. But God touched my body and made me very weak. Since then I am carrying a thorn in my flesh. In a day many times I used to knelt down before the throne of Grace. God gave me sufficient grace to carry on in my life in spite of many odds. He has called, separated and confined me to do His work and for the last 35 years I am able to serve my God faithfully at Kundara, a small town in the beautiful South Indian state Kerala.

When I was at Kuwait while walking alone in the desert areas I used to sing loudly and offer prayers to God. By the grace of God, further in my life , three times I have visited Kuwait Brethren Assemblies for ministering the word of God. I used to pray by standing, kneeling down and falling on the floors. In the Fall of 2024 I have been visiting my son who lives in Midland, Texas a place everywhere full of oil wells with automatic pump drawing crude oil like water, hidden treasures beneath these grounds are one of the secrets of American richness. While in Midland it was incredible to watch an assembly of believers walking on the green pastures and praying for their needs and for the rulers of city , state and country. This is a way of praying that is referred to as ‘prayer walk’ – an incredible way to praying for the needs, building community all while being outside walking in neighborhoods.

The standing orders for the assembly is, “ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks “ 1 Thess.5:16,17. Prayer changes things. Prayer has divided seas, rolled up flowing rivers, muzzled lions, arrested sun in its great race. When Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three years. And when he prayed again, the heaven gave rain.

Cold prayers are arrows without heads, as swords without edges, as birds without wings , they pierce not, they cut not , they fly not upto heaven. Cold prayers always freeze before they get to haven.

– Thomas Brooks

It’s not arithmetic of prayers, how many they are ; nor the rhetoric of prayers ; how eloquent they be; nor the geometry of our prayers; how long they be: nor the music of our prayers; how sweet our voice may be; nor the method of our prayers ; how orderly they may be; nor even the theology of our prayers ; how good the doctrine may be- which God cares for. Fervency of spirit is that which avails much.

– Bishop Hall

Prayer moves God to do things that He would not otherwise had done. This is clear from James 4:2;5:16. “ You do not have because you do not ask”; “ the effective fervent prayers of righteous man avails much”.

The work of God is done more in prayers than in any other way. Someone has said; “ I measure my effectiveness by the number of people I pray for and the number of people who pray for me.
Prayer go to the Father through the son (Eph.2:18). We honor God by the greatness of our prayers. A beggar asked Alexander The Great for a farm for himself; a dowry for his daughter; and an education for his son. When reproached by his aides for granting all these requests, Alexander said; I get tired of these people who come asking for a gold coin. That saucy beggar treated me like a King, he asked big . We should also ask big.

Too often our prayers are puny, as suggested in this poem;

If you had been living when Christ was on the earth
And had met Saviour kind,
What would you’ve asked him to do for you
Supposing you were stone blind?

The child considered and then replied
“ I suppose that without doubt,
I’d have asked the Lord for a dog with a chain
To lead me daily about “

How often thus in our faithless prayers
We acknowledge with shamed surprise
We have only asked for a dog with a chain
When we might have had opened eyes( M. Colly )

Great intercessory prayers of Jesus Christ, Abraham, Nehemiah, Job, Jeremiah, Daniel, Stephen are recorded in Bible. Abraham’s prayer is a wonderful example of effective intercession. It was based on the righteous character of the judge of all the earth.His prayer is evidence of deep humility and knowledge of God. Only when Abraham stopped pleading did the Lord, closed the matter and depart (Gen.18:33). When David was in trouble, he prayed to God and strengthened himself (1 Sam.30:6). When Moses, Aaron and Hur prayed unitedly , Joshua defeated the Amalekites with the sword. We find Nehemiah praying without ceasing. (Neh.1:4-13:31). Nehemiah habitually turned to God in times of crisis. Daniel was outside the comfort zone. But he was experiencing calmness in his life. He was also not a conformer but a reformer because Daniel lived a disciplined holy life and prayed three times daily as was his custom since early days.

Our prayers usually interrupted not by threats but simply by the pressure of our schedules. Don’t let threats or pressure cut into your prayer time.

Stephen offered two short prayers in his dying moments. Stephen followed the Lords example as prayer was in the mouth of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross. They prayed for themselves and for their persecutors.

Peter was miraculously rescued from the prison because constant prayer was offered to God for him by the assembly. But they were actually surprised when their prayer was answered and when Peter knocked at door of gate. These believers have often been chided for their unbelieving prayers. God sometimes answer such faithless prayers.

Prayer is a unique opportunity of Christian service. Prayer is the key to open the gates of throne of grace. Prayer warriors should take care that their prayer life  should not become an idol or make them to think as they are spiritual giants. It will bring set backs to their life.

The world will recognize us disciples of Jesus Christ only when they see our prayers are being answered. There must be perseverance in our prayer life. Prayer is the only key to lead a victorious Christian life. Prayer is more important than service. Prayer should be a joy for us. Unless Gods people pray God will not act . When we get to heaven, we will wish we had prayed more. Let us pray for one another and without ceasing.

C M John

C.M. John has been in full time ministry of the Lord for more than thirty years as a bible teacher, elder, speaker and writer. His most recent book is a commentary on the Pastoral Epistles. He is also the co-founder and a core team member of the Renew In Knowledge Ministry.