‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.- Zechariah 4:6
Let’s ask a few questions:
- Who’s actually Lord of the universe?
- Who exercises final control over what is done or is allowed to be done?
- Who is described as omnipotent, or all-powerful?
It’s obviously not us. It’s God alone.
With that being said, it really does beg the question: Why don’t we pray more?
I’d encourage you to take a quick glance through the book of Acts and take note of just how much happens in the context of prayer. For instance…
- The apostles appoint a replacement for Judas (Acts 1)
- The Holy Spirit shows up and 3,000 people get saved (Acts 2, they were together, and given the context of Acts 1, likely praying)
- The believers devoted themselves to prayer and the Lord added to their number daily (Acts 2)
- The beggar was healed because Peter and John were going to the temple at the time of prayer, and the church grows to 5,000 people (Acts 3)
- The apostles were empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak the Word boldly (Acts 4)
- The Gospel goes to the Gentiles (Acts 10- Cornelius is praying, Peter is praying)
- Peter is set free from prison as the church was praying (Acts 12)
- Paul (Saul) and Barnabas receive a call to go on a mission trip (Acts 13)
- Paul and Silas set free from prison as they were praying and singing hymns (Acts 16)
Isn’t it interesting that so many of the things that happen in Acts happen in the context of prayer?
So why don’t we pray more?
Let’s recognize this: the early church didn’t have the internet, they didn’t have a written Bible (at least not a full one), they didn’t have any programs or any sort of strategic planning (that we know of)…and yet they turned the Roman world completely upside down.
It seems to me they didn’t plan so much as they prayed. And when they prayed, God moved powerfully.
Why don’t we pray more?
As we enter the second half of 2021, may I suggest we…
- talk less
- scroll less
- plan less
- debate less
- rant less
…and instead…why don’t we pray?
And I’m not talking a few seconds in prayer. I mean seriously, passionately, giving serious time to asking God to align us with His will, for Him to dictate the plan, and for Him to give us boldness to be a witness of the Gospel to our world.
That worked in the first century. And God doesn’t change.
In America, the church isn’t ineffective for a lack of plans and strategies.
It’s ineffective because of a lack of prayer.
God can do more in moments than we can do in a millennium.
So let’s get to praying. And I believe if we do, we’ll see God begin moving in ways we can’t imagine.