Focus: Why Not Pray?

Text: Lk.18:1

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to FAINT."

Jesus Christ told a parable that touches on the subject of prayer. He wanted His disciples to understand the role of prayer in men's lives as far as earthly existence is concerned. He wanted them also to understand the need to persist in prayer until they see the results or effects of it in their lives. He said that "men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Prayer is the serious business of heaven. Men OUGHT to pray. It is binding on us as humans to pray, because prayer is the means of establishing divine connection with the Lord and keeping open communication lines between heaven and the earth.

Success comes from what we do consciously, deliberately, constantly, continuously, and consistently. The art and science of prayer is to be practiced or exercised habitually. It is something we should do all the time. Prayer is a mighty force on earth. God has committed Himself to achieving mighty things on earth through the prayer of His people.

Prayer is not a once-a-while exercise. It is meant to be our culture, our lifestyle or way of life. We can't pray enough. We pray until something happens and until there is a supernatural shift in the atmosphere.

No fainting is to be tolerated. No slackness should be allowed. Lack of trust in God makes us not pray. Seemingly unanswered prayers make us faint in prayer. Spiritual sleepiness keeps us from praying. Jesus Christ asked His disciples, "Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation" (Lk.22:46). Paul says, "Awake from your slumber…" And we know that it is while men slept that an enemy entered the field and planted the tares. We must always watch it. We must conquer the spirits that cause fainting and sleepiness. We must conquer our pride. It is because of these foxes that spoil the vine that we fail to pray. 

God by a prophetess said to Josiah, the king of Judah, "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst HUMBLE thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and HUMBLEDST thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even HEARD thee also, saith the LORD" (2Chron.34:27). God answers the prayer of the humble, not the arrogant. 

James writes, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (Jam.4:6). God makes the humble a recipient of grace. Peter also lends his own voice, "Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (1Pet.5:5). Solomon declares that "a man's PRIDE shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the HUMBLE in spirit" (Prov.29:23). The psalmist tells us that God "forgetteth not the CRY of the HUMBLE" (Ps.9:12). God said to Solomon, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall HUMBLE themselves, and PRAY, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2Chron.7:14). 

The humble pray, and God forgives sins and heals the land when the humble pray. Our pride and lack of dependence on God won't let us pray.

In our moment of fainting we lack the strength to pray. Paul in Romans 8 tells us that the Spirit helps our infirmity or weakness, and that means that we cannot excuse our weakness. The Spirit is in our lives to help our weakness, not our strength. Paul says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we FAINT not" (Gal.6:9). Fainting makes us lose, and we must not make room for unnecessary losses. Paul says, "But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing" (2Thes.2:13). 

Let's keep doing well! Let's keep praying! Let's keep trusting God! Let's keep waiting on the Lord! Let's keep looking up to the Lord! Let's not relegate prayer to the background or the sidelines!

I close with these Scriptures:

Paul says, "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day" (2Tim.1:3).

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing…" (1Thes.2:13).

"Pray without ceasing" (1Thes.5:17).

"Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers" (Rom.1:9).

"Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him" (Act.12:5).

"Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you…"(1Sam.12:23). 

Why not pray and keep praying? God is ready to listen and give you an answer.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter