The first condition for prayer, as we have seen, is that we must be free of sin and repentant of all wickedness. Further, God is looking for faith in our prayers—for the kind of consistency and intensity in prayer that fills every place and all the moments of our lives. Today’s reading from If Men Will Pray is found on pages 3-32:
“But there is a second condition for our prayers as well: Men must lift up holy hands to God in every place. This speaks to an attitude of readiness and constancy in prayer which Paul elsewhere described as praying ‘without ceasing’. The prophet Isaiah envisioned the prayers of faithful men as fulfilling the role of watchmen on the wall, who day and night supplicate the throne of heaven, giving God no rest until He pours out His blessings on His people.
“Here is a call, at the very least, to more consistency in prayer throughout the day, and not just once in the morning or evening, or during special gatherings for prayer. When men begin to take prayer as seriously, for example, as their three-times-daily meals, then God will begin to do what only God can do in bringing revival, renewal, and awakening to our land.
“But here also is a call for men to challenge, exhort, and enlist other men, men in every place, to join in a great movement of prayer for God to pour out His grace and truth in our midst once again. Paul seems to have envisioned men joining together for prayer. How else can we understand Paul’s admonition that they not quarrel or be angry with one another? Get enough men together in one place for very long and disagreements about many things will soon emerge. Paul wants men to be together in prayer – physically together, doubtless at appointed times, but also on the same page concerning the purpose of their uniting for prayer.
“Paul calls for a singular focus in prayer, so that God might do all that we have previously mentioned. And he seems to want men to come together and pray together on something of a regular basis.
“If holy men will cultivate the discipline of prayer so that they are more constantly and continuously engaged in confession of sin and communion with the Lord; and if they will enlist other men and join together in body and spirit to pray, then God may be pleased to pour out His blessings on our churches and our land.
“If, that is, Christian men will pray.”
For reflection or discussion
1. As important as praying alone is, why does it make sense to think that praying together can be more effective?
2. What could you do to begin getting others together for regular prayer?
We may doubt that God would listen to our prayers and do anything really, you know, significant. And, as James reminds us, if we doubt, we will not receive what we seek from the Lord. But by coming to God in prayer, coming faithfully, coming with others—by continually coming to God we both show Him that we do not doubt His promises and that, like the importunate widow, we are determined to have them. Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to discuss it. You can order If Men Will Pray from The Ailbe Bookstore.
