The Value of Prayer  (written by an international missionary…was reading of his ministry and loved what he wrote about prayer…) 

If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy. 

“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12 

It seems our worth is measured by what we accomplish and can be quantitatively measured. While there is nothing wrong with trying to be productive, Jesus shows us there is high value in sacrificing our lives in that which doesn’t always show an immediate and tangible response. 

There is value in spending time “…in prayer to God.” 

An example of this in Jesus’ life is when just before He chose twelve apostles, He spent the entire night in prayer. He did this often. Luke says that Jesus “frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.” Luke 5:16  

One of the lessons we learn from this is that Jesus would sacrifice time and energy, even time preaching and healing (which He was sent by God to do) so He couldpray. If He did, so should we. 

Finding time to pray will be difficult if we don’t place a high value on it, but if we follow the life and example of Jesus we’ll find time to pray. Or better said, we’ll make time to pray. Consider Jesus’ life. 

If we read the Gospels we’ll find that Jesus’ life wasn’t just busy, it was intense. There were often people crowding around Him, always talking to Him, always demanding His time and attention. 

This is why in order for Jesus to be alone, He often would have to “go up on the mountain by Himself to pray.” Matthew 14:23.  Prayer requires sacrifice. But what isthe value of prayer? Why pray? 

A pursuit of prayer allows us to seek, to find and be able to commune with God. Listen to the prophet Isaiah express this. He said, “At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently.” Isaiah 26:9 

Note that Isaiah says, “my spirit within me seeks You diligently.” It’s what Paul calls our “inner man” that is strengthened when we pray. 

David shows us that when we are emotionally, physically, and spiritually weak and weary the only place we should go to find the spiritual water to quench our thirsty soul is to God in prayer. 

David said in Psalm 63:1  “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.” 

If we take the time and effort, we’ll discover that God has placed in each of us a spiritual hunger and desire that our lives would have eternal worth and meaning. 

What we are all looking for in life is only found in a personal relationship with God. Even if we obtain all our life goals, and accomplish all we set out to do, what value is there in all that when we die? 

But a pursuit of God in prayer can take us to the place where we realize that only through repentance of our sin and drawing near to God can we find the peace and purpose we all seek. Prayer will take us to such as place, praying through Jesus as our mediator is the road to get us there. 

 “Father please, help us to live lives of prayer.” 

Amen