Your Daily Devotional for May 19, 2006

May 19, 2006

 

Nothing To Pray for?

By Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

 

Philippians 4:6

 

Prayer is essential to the Christian life. One Christian author has said it this way, “Prayer does not equip us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” We have many needs that require prayer. Paul makes this clear when he says to the Philippians “...in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God.” God has intended for us to bring everything to Him, trusting that He will provide every need, solve every problem, and wash away every doubt. And He will if we so ask! Christ edified his disciples in John 15:7 that “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” We can trust that God’s promise is true for today and that, if we abide in Christ, we will have our prayers answered.

 

Unfortunately, it seems to be a popular excuse that there aren’t enough things to pray for. I’m afraid that Christians today have the wrong view.  There is far too much to pray for! Let’s see a few examples of what we should pray for.

 

Our families need prayer. The family that prays together stays together! There are many things that you can give to your children, but there is little better that you can give than the power of prayer on their behalf! Our families need prayer for wisdom, protection, and health! What about your children’s purity? God forbid that I would fail to pray each of my children to purity in the marriage altar! With 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce, it is clear that our families need prayer.

 

Our nation needs prayer! The psalmist said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). Our nation was founded on principles that made God and His Word the standard of authority, and God blessed this. However, right now our nation is coming to the point of either anarchy or revival in a very near hour. Teen pregnancy and abortion is on the rise. Public television is promoting filth, and our nation is in desperate need of prayer, even today.

 

Our world needs laborers. Christ commanded us in Matthew 9:38 to “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” When was the last time that we simply prayed for more pastors, evangelists, or missionaries? There is a great need for more laborers, and we need to pray for them.

For those who are convinced that there is nothing to pray for, look closely at those three examples. If they were broadened out with names attached and needs created, you would have a fairly large prayer list! There is much more to pray for than most people even make time for! Today, wherever you might be, take the time to pray for these select three categories that desperately need prayer. Then, if you have not created one before, create a prayer list for yourself to pray through daily, and “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” May God richly bless you as you seek Him each day in prayer!

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