A Call to Prayer
By Reggie Scarborough
If we can understand and use the power of prayer as Christians and especially as men of God, our lives will take on great meaning, and we will see our spiritual life soar like never before.
An outpouring of God’s Spirit is coming to the earth. But before the outpouring that many Christians have been looking for, there will be a revival that many aren’t looking for—a revival of prayer.
God has called men to be the head of the family, and the revival of prayer must begin with us. If we take our place in society and in our family, if we call on God in prayer, God will show us great and mighty things, which we have not seen before (Jer. 33:3).
In Luke chapter 21, Jesus gives us a glimpse of what is to come in the end times, and He tells us why we don’t have to be afraid.
Luke 21:25–29 (NKJV)
25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
26 “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
27 “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
In verse 28, Jesus makes a statement that is most pertinent to us as Christians. He tells us to “lift up our heads, because our redemption draws near.” What is our redemption? It is the day when Jesus comes in clouds of glory and every eye shall see Him. Then we who are alive shall be caught up together in the clouds, and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16–18).
I want to be ready for Jesus when He comes. I want to be found faithful, making my calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10). I don’t want to let one day go by that I don’t put Jesus first in every area of my life.
Before we were born, God already had a plan and purpose for our life. Prayer will help us discover and fulfill that plan. Yes, God intends for us to work and to provide for our family (1 Tim. 5:8). But sometimes we just go through the motions of life without getting anywhere.
We go to work, come home at night, sit in the recliner, watch television, and get up the next morning to go to work—just like a hamster in a cage runs the wheel and gets nowhere. Life has more purpose than that!
God has something far more exciting for us if we will walk in the realm of the Spirit. If we will spend time in prayer, tuning our heart every day to God’s Spirit, and if we will follow the Spirit’s leading, God will give us opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives.
Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). That abundant life is connected to our prayer life. Some people’s prayer life only consists of making it from crisis to crisis. Thank God, we can go to the Lord in crisis. But we ought to live in the place where we can take care of issues before they ever become crises!
Men, God has plans for you. And if you will take your place in prayer, you will produce those plans not only for yourself, but also for your wife and children. And when it’s all said and done, you will see the coming of the Lord.
If you are ready to dedicate yourself to a life of prayer, say, “Father God, I want to become a person of prayer. I don’t want to operate in the flesh but in the realm of the Spirit. I want to fulfill Your divine destiny for my life. I ask You to deposit in me a desire to pray like never before. May I take my position seriously and be ready for the coming of the Lord. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”
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In these last days, prophecies are coming to pass as we watch them on the news. The signs of the times point to the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians, we know we are supposed to pray. But in the face of global upheavals and shifts in power, how do we pray
effectively?
