The Essence of Prayer

9.4.2007

Reginald Fredericks

Many years ago, I prayed that prayer…

“Lord, bring her back to me!”

Day and night I cried indeed

One morn she did, the other went astray

But has my prayer since then been,

“Lord why?” Oh certainly not

Shall the clay say to the potter,

“Why did you form me?”

What right have I to say

“Lord, thoust taken her away”

Have you not heard that if

The person goes from among us then

They have not part with us, even in the beginning

So, then…what am I to do?

Pray…pray…all I can do is pray

Why pray?

Prayer is talking with the One who knows all

Prayer is confessing sin to my Holy God

Prayer is sorrow for what I’ve done wrong,

That mark that I missed many years back

Prayer is gratitude for my health

Thankfulness for my limbs,

Strength on a weary day,

Courage on a day of trial,

Confidance in obtaining victory,

Assurance of whom I believe in

Prayer is…that unresting petition,

That master solice that can never vanishes

Shall I pray for small things?

Maybe big things?

Have you not heard that my God

Knows the number of hairs on your head

And even the innermost secerts of your heart

Prayer isn’t something we do just to do it

But it is the only means by which we say

“Lord, have your way”

If I could master a thousand languages

But have not one prayer

Then all I have are words left unspoken

Meaningless in all favor

But if I have a few words and one prayer

I have a mountain of power

That stands tall in the distance

Fueled by the power of the Almighty

And it is He that gives me the full

Account, though my words be few

Even if I have love, but no prayer

Then my love contains no flavor or fire

For prayer is like a fire

That’s necessary to run a boiler

For the train to make it’s mark

Prayer is program that enables

A saint to run without stumbling in his own steps

No more than a computer with a program

But how much more is prayer than a program

If one has many services but no prayer

Then the effect of that service has lost its fuel

Say I shall, “Lord your will be done”

But not cast that petition in prayer

I am merely saying,

“Lord, I want you to have your way

But I rather not say”

Foolish heart, insolent wretch I can be!

But with many prayers a soul can be saved

With many prayers

Mountains can disappear

Rivers can flood a valley

The hungry can soothe their raging belly

The homeless can sleep in tearless slumber

The poor can share the rich man’s wealth

The uneducated can read and write

The educated can be humble and wise

The slow can be quick

The fast can be patient

The loving can be masters of peace

The unforgiving can be reconciled

The angry can be calmed

The abuse can be stilled and repaired

The oppressed can be freed

The sorrowful can be found full of hope

The depressed can be highly esteemed

The fool can be found wise

The mouth of the boaster can be shut

The dictator can be removed

The righteous can be exalted

The wicked can be cut down and destroyed

The churches can be restored

The preachers can be reformed

The pews can be sincere

The lovers-at-heart can be married

The singles of the world can be content

The children can be loved and innocent

And….the world can be changed

With the power of prayer

Our lives can be changed

Do you want proof?

Look at mine

Do you think prayer was needed for me?

If you say no, then you’ve missed my whole point

For what man can change himself and say, “No one changes me.”

Do you not know that God, the True-Living God, abides above

And He is ready to change your heart

For what?

Besides you have sinned against Him

Absurd, some will say

Others have said, “I believe not”

Still even some, “It’s just too many to believe”

And yet some still say, “He is Not real.”

Okay….well then if that is true then so is prayer

Without God, all would not exist

But then, the Living God, who has always abided

Is ever eternal and glorious beyond a thought

His only Son He sent to die

To answer the prayer of many people

“How can I be saved from sin”

And that answer can when the One we call,

Jesus Christ came to die on a cross

At calvary’s mountainside no less

To pay the penalty for sin

Reconciling us to a right standing with Father God

But that’s not the end of the story…

Three days later He rose again

Sin paid for and death defeated

With all power and victory in His hands

All is given Him now in heaven,

Seated at the Father’s right hand

Interceding, praying, for His people

And one day He’ll come again

To take His people home

But then when that happens

You’ll say “No such a thing has happened”

And then afterwards you’ll see

The clouds of heaven roll back

And that same “no he hasn’t existed” man

With all His armies coming to take down all the enemies of God

That includes you, the sinner, who has yet to come before God and confess your sin

You point at me? Of course I am

But….saints are sinners who are washed in His blood and saved by grace through faith

Sealed with His Holy Spirit of promise and our redeeming santification

You are the sinner, who’s lifestyle is cheap

Who’s walls are bleak

And who’s desire is only for sin

Not you? Then come to grips…

Have you lied, stolen, or lusted after anything or anyone?

Ever used God’s name as a curse word, dishonored your parents?

Have you kept the Sabbath or desired something someone else had?

Made an idol to suit yourself, worshipped God, or murdered anyone?

Even if you said yes to one, the rule is

Break one, you buy all

Thus, you’re bankrupt because one sin costs all of heaven

And if you would confess with your mouth

Jeus is Lord, and repent of your sin,

Turn away and not look back,

Then you can be a saint too

After all, that’s what prayer is all about

Just one thing though…

Time is short…

So…if you haven’t prayed yet,

Oh and prayer won’t save you

But at least you’ll get through,

Then please do it now

Cause even God has a prayer, you see,

Want to know what it is?

That all men come to His Son for salvation

So that He doesn’t have to punish you in Hell

For your sins…but this only works

If you hear His voice

So harken today unto His voice

And His prayer will guide you

To a new heaven and a new earth

A new creature you’ll become

Becoming His righteousness and not of yourself

But only because a Holy God prayed for you

As well as me…

Thus…..the heavens declare the glory of God

But we, His saints, are the glory of His prayer

His Word never fails

Faithful is He indeed

To save many for heaven above

So, don’t delay and make haste

Prayer is the most important thing

Anyone could do…

Want to make a difference? Pray!

First To God, then for man, and then for yourself

If you need His saving grace, then pray for repentance

Still don’t understand?

Then in my final words, my only thought is this:

Go back to line number one