The Believer's Lifeline

What do you think is the primary method established by God that causes us to grow in intimacy with Him, remove obstacles to His work going forward through us, and changing the spiritual lay of the land out before us?

The Apostle Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

To the church at Thessalonica he wrote, “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17).

John Wesley said, “God moves in response to the prayers of His people, if we will not pray, God will not move.”

Oswald Chambers said that in regards to our spiritual life and vitality, we need to think of prayer as we think of breath in our lungs and blood from our hearts.

Prayer is the means we use to maintain contact and intimacy with the most complex and powerful intelligence in the universe, God Almighty. Prayer can be practiced at anytime and at anyplace. We need no special equipment or appointments. When the words “Our Father” flow from our lips and our hearts, contact is established immediately with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Bible lets us know that when we are born again the Spirit of God takes up residence within us. Oswald Chambers says that the life of the Spirit within us is nurtured and strengthened by prayer.

Through prayer we come to know God intimately. Through prayer God responds to our petitions for food, clothing, and shelter. Through praying for others God changes people and situations that we could never change with our words and our human efforts. Through prayer God binds the evil one and opens doors to strongholds that have imprisoned individuals, families, people groups, and nations. Through prayer God releases His Holy Spirit’s power in the earth. Prayer was never meant to be an “in case of emergency break glass” communication with God or the key to an eternal blessing machine.

One of the most profound effects of intimacy with God through believing prayer is found in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Many have distorted this passage far beyond its intended meaning. This verse is not the handle to a trap door of material blessings. Here the Psalmist speaks of an intimacy with God that is so great that the desires that begin to fill a believer’s heart are the very desires that fill the heart of God. How can we come to know the difference between the desires that fill the heart of God and the desires that well up out of our human interests? By studying God’s Word, the Bible. This is where the vital link between prayer and study becomes obvious.

So, dare I ask, “How’s your prayer life?” Is the Spirit of God in you being nurtured by times of intimacy with your Father in heaven? Are you gaining increasing victory over the wiles of the world, the flesh, and the devil? Is prayer to you as vital as your next breath?