"Then He spoke a parable to them, that one must always pray and not lose heart," (Luke 18:1).
The importance of prayer can never be overemphasized. Prayer is so vital because it is the platform where we communicate and fellowship with our God. This is what the Lord meant by "One must always pray and not loose heart."
You don't have to be a 'prayer warrior' or 'praying mantis' before you pray. No! Prayer is a ministry. We were made priests unto God by our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelations 1:5). This priestly ministry was very vital in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. In the Old Testament, one of the instructions given to the priest was,
"And the priest shall put on the linen tunic, and he shall put the linen drawers on his body; and shall take away that which has been thoroughly burned, which the fire shall have consumed, even the burnt offering from the altar, and he shall put it near the altar. And he shall put off his robe, and put on another robe, and he shall take forth the offering that has been burned without the camp into a clean place. And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it and shall not be extinguished; and the priest shall burn on it wood every morning, and shall heap on it the burnt offering, and shall lay on it the fat of the peace-offering. And the fire shall always burn on the altar; it shall not be extinguished" (Leviticus 6:10-13 LOGOS).
The Old Testament priests were instructed to function in their office daily. That is exactly what the Lord Jesus said- "men must always pray." In supporting what Jesus said, Apostle Paul said,
"Pray without ceasing!" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Apostle James told his brethren why they did not receive answers. He said,In our ministry of prayer, we should make sure we do not get carried away by selfishness. The ministry of prayer is not a selfish ministry. It is a ministry where we synchronize ourselves with Lord in order to fulfill His will, plan and purposes on earth. This is where many miss it. They spend all their time of prayer praying for themselves and their needs. They do not respond to prayer with the Kingdom mindset. Many even get deceived that they do not have to pray for long because prayer is a matter of the heart. This deception is on those who give excuses to prayer. Even our Lord Jesus was accustomed to praying for long and even all nights of prayer. Prayer is a serious work. It is not what we do haphazardly, or with shortcuts. Prayer is well honoured and recognized in heaven. It is serious work. We know well that we would not joke with our earthly jobs because they are vital. And we labour in our jobs to make things work. That is the same attitude we have to show in prayer, and even more. Praise God!
"You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend it in gratifying your lusts" (James 4:3 LOGOS).
He was talking to believers. They didn't receive because their prayers were selfish. The most important prayers are those geared towards establishing the will of God and His kingdom on earth. In requesting for prayers from the saints, Apostle said,
"Furthermore, brethren, do pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may speed on (spread rapidly and run its course) and be glorified (extolled)and triumph, even as [it has done] with you, And that we may be delivered from perverse (improper, unrighteous) and wicked (actively malicious) men, for not everybody has faith and is held by it" (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 AMPC).
We have to pray that the Word (The gospel) of the Lord may speed on (spread rapidly and run its course) and be glorified (extolled) and triumph in the lives and hearts of people. And we also pray for the deliverance and protection of those that preach the gospel. Whatever great impact you make in the Kingdom of God will never go unrewarded. And Jesus enjoined us to seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness first (Matthew 6:33). Let your prayer life be controlled and motivated by the agenda of the Kingdom. When you pray like that, you will receive answers. Praise the Lord!
God bless you in the Name of the Lord Jesus.
Image Credit: worldinprayer.org