17 August Psalm 109

Become a person of prayer

Psalm 109:4(NIV) In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.

A person of prayer prays. The person of prayer enters intimacy with the Almighty. He realises that God is in control and His wisdom is needed for life and work. A great example of a man of prayer was John Knox.

The devout Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, is reputed to have said: “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe.” Why do you think the Queen said this? Well, because she saw the impact of Knox’s prayer. From a human point of view, it was the prayer of Knox that sparked the Reformation in Scotland. His prayer became the fuel of the ongoing reformation during his time. His prayer shook the land of Scotland, causing a revival among God’s people. Perhaps of all the prayers of Knox, Give me Scotland, or I die, is the most quoted one. It was not an arrogant prayer but a passionate plea, showing his intense desire for the conversion of the people of Scotland. His prayer was an expression of his great confidence in God. One of Knox’s mottos was: “One man with God is always in the majority.” (From The Collected Prayers of John Knox)

Why is a praying person powerful? Throughout history, many great people have been known for their devotion to prayer. From religious leaders to political figures, prayer has been a cornerstone of their daily lives. Being a person of prayer is more than just reciting words or going through the motions. It's about cultivating a deep connection with God and finding peace and strength during life's challenges.

Prayer is a conversation. Prayer is intended to be a moment when we come before God and exchange words with Him. We offer Him our adoration, confession, gratitude, and petitions, but then we must listen to hear what He has to say to us.

Prayer is a manifestation of God’s promise. We know that God will answer our prayers. But we should also reassure ourselves of His promises that He is going to answer them in His own perfect time.

Prayer is also a time of praise. When we pray, we sometimes think that it’s enough to just ask God to help us, but it is also time alone with God through praise.

Prayer is a privilege. Prayer is a gift - an opportunity to cultivate our relationship with God. People of prayer don’t just pray when they are in need; for them, prayer is a lifestyle. They wake up praying, fall asleep praying, and they carve out time in their day to pray. They don’t surrender their time in prayer for anything.

“What wings are to a bird and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.” -Corrie Ten Boom

James 5:16(AMP) Therefore, confess your sins to one another , and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much .

I conclude with Luke 11:9(AMP) “So I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Asking means praying with expectancy. Seeking means praying with effort. Seeking involves searching and surrendering. Knocking means praying with endurance. Become a person of prayer.