What is at stake?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  Philippians 4:6

We've looked at the verse before, we've heard sermons on it, most of us can quote it.  Read it again while you also think about your prayer life, and ask yourself if you are ever anxious, or do you in every situation, present your requests to God?

Some time ago, another Christian blogger made a statement about prayer which I found interesting.  The blog was from churchleaders.com, and the statement was made by David Platt.  See what you think.

"You don't need prayer when there's nothing at stake in your walk with Christ." 

What?  Christians are a praying people.  They recognize the need for a healthy and regular prayer life.  Yet, it is relatively easy to see the point Platt was making when we realize there are some who are satisfied with occasional church attendance and Bible reading, as one of the respondents to the blog stated, and some just do not hunger and thirst for righteousness. 

Is it possible that we who are in a personal relationship with Jesus, our Savior, and have recognized as "normal" the concept of conversing with God by prayers, petitions and thanksgiving, have not communicated that normality to others in the body of Christ?   

Perhaps the message concerning prayer could be best understood in the comments of some others to Platt's statement.  " Going without prayer is like going for a day without talking to someone most dear to you."   "No one could live without prayer because prayer is the key for opening up doors and changing peoples' lives."   "Prayer is a means of talking to God and waiting patiently for Him to respond to us."

What would be your one or two sentence response to summarize what prayer means to you and your walk with Christ?  Does your statement reflect that you pray often, and you possess the assurance your prayers are heard and answered?

The Bible sufficiently gives us instructions for praying, and communicates to us the power of prayer.  In just about every writing of the Apostle Paul, he solicits the prayers of his readers.  Jesus teaches us about the intimacy of prayer in the Sermon on the Mount.  

So we have seen in scripture, in testimony, and in example, prayer is vital to the Christian life.  Know this, daily I pray those who read this blog.  People I do not know and will probably never meet are mentioned in my prayers.  Above all, I pray that you will come to know Jesus, and of his love for you. 

I encourage you also to make prayer a very real part of your life.  We Christians do need prayer because there is so much at stake in our walk with Christ. 

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