I hope you have had a blessed week filled with the joy of the Lord. A couple of weeks ago, while scrolling through Instagram, I came across some powerful words emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize prayer in our lives. These words not only prompted me to reflect on my own prayer life but also on the prayer life of our church as a whole.
Twentieth-century evangelist and author Leonard Ravenhill once wrote a profound piece on the necessity of remaining connected to God through prayer. Consider his impactful opening statement: “No man is greater than his prayer life.”
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? For many of us, how true it rings! I believe he is right; no one can truly thrive without the need for prayer.
Our commitment to prayer is a true measure of our faith and relationship with God. Ravenhill laments the poverty of prayer within the church today, pointing out that while we may be rich in programs and resources, we often fall short in our passionate pursuit of God through prayer.
We live in a world spiralling toward chaos, yet how often do we gather to earnestly wait upon God for revival? When was the last time we missed a night’s rest to seek God’s face urgently? While our society may be fixated on worldly concerns, we have access to the highest ministry of all—prayer. It is through prayer that vision and passion are birthed and sustained.
Prayer is to the believer what capital is to the businessman." Just as a business cannot thrive without funding, neither can we flourish in our faith without prayer. Are we leaning heavily on our resources while neglecting the power of prayer?
From this moment on, let us commit together to deepen our prayer lives. I encourage you to set aside intentional time for prayer at home. Let’s become a church that wrestles in prayer, clings to God, and intercedes fervently for our community and the world. Let’s not allow the urgency of our lives to drown out the voice of God calling us to communion with Him. Remember, the secret of praying is praying in secret, and the fervent prayers of a devoted church can indeed shake the very foundations of this world.
May we strive to replace our anxieties with fervent prayers and earnestly seek God’s presence. There is no substitute for this kind of prayer; it is essential for our growth and effectiveness as a church.
Blessings in Christ, David Peñate
