Praying continuously

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Published: Monday, 30 January 2017 00:04

Written by James Dean

When I woke this morning I had no email leading me in prayer for our church, and I missed it! I expect I may not be entirely alone in this but there will be others of you who perhaps got a bit fed up with the daily reminder in your inbox. But looking back over the last 30 days, it has been such a good month of focussed prayer for BEC and a real encouragement for me - I hope it has been for you too.

This last Sunday evening was also our final weekly prayer hour and again it felt a little odd thinking that it wouldn't happen again next week. Several commented after each hour that the time had gone so quickly. The surprise seemed genuine, but none of us were really scratching for something to pray: it's flowed quite naturally. It's also been a personal encouragement that we've had such a wide and diverse group praying each week. To that end I believe this month has been a success and perhaps we should continue the habit of the weekly prayer hour on Sundays. Let me know if you agree.

That aside, I'm keen that we don't rest on our laurels. Life continues on and we are called to pray continuously, and so we should.

I'm including a link below to a brand new 30-day prayer challenge and this one is very pointed - it's a challenge that includes you and your spouse praying together. I can almost sense the collective terror. Since it's completely new I have no real idea whether this would work without involving your husband or wife - I expect it will be fine. And if your spouse isn't a Christian, please join anyway and pray for them, perhaps pray together with a friend from church.

I'll sign off with a few quotes about prayer that I hope you find as useful as I have...

E. M. Bounds: "What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men and women whom the Holy Ghost can use - people of prayer, people mighty in prayer."

J. C. Ryle: "Prayer and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer."

John Bunyan: "The truths that I know best I have learned on my knees.... I never know a thing well, till it is burned into my heart by prayer."

Paul: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5 v 16-18)