12 Reasons For Being A Member Of The Church Of Christ
"The Priviledge of Prayer"
When one becomes a Christian through obedience to their Lord in baptism, Acts 10:48, they are added to the Lord’s church, Acts 2:47. As a Christian, one of the outstanding privileges available to him is prayer. Whether one prays for himself or others, he attest man’s never ending need of God. It is the Father’s desire and will that His children pray. "Pray without ceasing; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”" (1 Thess 5:17,18). When one recognizes his desperate, urgent, constant need of God’s providential protection and care, his desire for God represses every other desire, and prayer becomes a major part of everyday life. What a marvelous privilege the Christian has to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need," (Heb 4:16). There is added comfort and joy in knowing that "the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much”" (James 5:16), and that God has the ability to answer prayer. Psalms 34:17,18 says:
"The righteous cry out and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken hearted, And saves those who are crushed in spirit."
The Christian’s prayer is for the purpose of keeping his mind centered on God. God speaks to us through His words, His divine Book, the Bible. We speak back to Him through prayer. We pour out our hopes and our fears, our triumphs and our disappointments, our joys and our sorrows. We do not ask to be spared the trials and temptations of life; we ask for the patience and strength to bear them. We do not ask to be materially blessed above others; we ask for the wisdom to use our riches to the glory of God. We do not ask to escape life’s tears and heartaches; we only ask for the strength to stand firm and to over come any and all of Satan’s snares. Having the great assurance that Jesus Christ, "who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin; let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need," (Heb 4:15,16). God’s promise to answer prayer is conditional. One may pray and not be heard. James said, "You ask and do not receive" (James 4:3); therefore, for one’s prayer to be heard they must:
- Be righteous. God will only hear their prayer. "For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:12
- Be obedient. God answers prayer of those who keep His commandments, 1 Pet 3:12.
- Abide in Christ. Prayers are answered when we abide in Christ and His words abide in us, John 15:7
- Ask believing. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matt 21:22
- Have the right motive. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." James 4:3
- Have a forgiving spirit. God will forgive only those who forgive others, Matt 6:15.
- Ask according to His will. "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." 1 John 5:14
- Ask in Jesus’ name. Our petition must be made in Jesus’ name, John 14:13.