Its Time to Pray

Today's devotional is drawn from 1 Kings 18:36

“At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, …” 1 Kings 18:36 (NLT) Elijah began his prayer at 3:00pm which was the time when the faithful and godly Israelites back in Jerusalem would be assembled together to pray. When it was time to pray, Elijah prayed.

Looking around today I believe we can agree that it is time to pray. Rather than read the news of the day we should allow the news of the day to lead us to prayer. Try using your newspaper or your news feed as a source of prayer requests. You will run out of time before you run out of things to pray for. Look around in your own family; think about the situation in your church family, wouldn’t just these two areas give you plenty to pray for today? Sometimes we can rationalize that we are too busy to pray (Oh, we may not say that but our actions show it) when in reality we are too busy NOT to pray. There is so much happening all around us that we would be wise to plan a specific time to pray. Elijah prayed at a set time. So what time will you pray?

Many have been gathering at noon for a time of corporate prayer. This time has been an awesome experience to gather with brothers and sisters from various churches and backgrounds to pour our heart out to God in prayer. If you have not yet attended one of our noon prayer meetings I plead with you to do so. Don’t miss the blessing, plan to come and pray with us; you will be thankful you did.

Daniel prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10). He even prayed when it was dangerous to pray. He prayed at a time when it was illegal to pray. We have the freedom to pray today, so let’s pray. Jesus prayed early in the morning, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35). We can get up early if we choose too, so let’s pray. Peter and John “were going to the temple at the hour of prayer,” I’m guessing they were going there to pray. More than likely your church has an established time for a prayer meeting, so let’s pray. The early church was driven to prayer by the problems they encountered (Acts 12:5). Is your church problem free? So let’s pray. Every church I have been around can always use more people involved in ministry. Jesus said, “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matt. 9:38). Do we need more laborers here and around the world? So let’s pray. Do you know anyone who is sick? James instructs us “call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him,” (James 5:14) So let’s pray. I think you have the idea – It’s time to pray!

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)

“You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2 ESV)