As I am writing this column, my complete focus is on the power of prayer. I have never heard of a revival starting, anywhere in the world, that did not start with prayer.
One of the renowned preachers that I esteem greatly is Charles Haddon Spurgeon. At the age of 21 years, they built the London Tabernacle Church for him, which seated 10 000 people. The Baptists regarded him as the prince of preachers. Yet Spurgeon said "I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach", that is how important prayer was to this man of God.
I will never attend any rally, campaign, or event if there is no intercessory prayer taking place beforehand. When people invite me to minister overseas, the first question I ask them is "How is the prayer doing?" If they respond along "We have got the budget and the facility, but we will start praying later", I let them know that they have invited the wrong man and they must rather invite someone else.
Andrew Murray, who was instrumental in one of the greatest revivals ever seen in South Africa, said: "The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history." When men work they work; but when men pray, God works.
We need to get back on our knees - it is the safest place to be, because we cannot fall far from there. M.E. Andross said, "There is no other activity in life so important as that of prayer. Every other activity depends upon prayer for its best efficiency."
My dear friend, many of us are not having long enough quiet times; our prayer life is weak and it is poor. John Bunyan, author of 'The Pilgrim's Progress', said "He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day." When we skimp and forfeit our quite time in the morning, we may never find time during the day to catch up. We have got to get up in the morning and pray. It is a discipline that we have to establish.
E.M. Bounds was a great intercessor from the 1800s and lived in the Wild West, USA. He said, "Prayer is not learned in a classroom but in the closet." Rick Warren also said, "The more you pray, the less you'll panic." I can say amen to that! I find the more time I spend in prayer with the Lord Jesus Christ, the more peaceful I become.
The scripture for our "It's Time" prayer event is found in Mark 14:38 (NKJV) which says, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." When we walk in the flesh, we start to panic; but when we walk in the Spirit, we are confident that Jesus Christ can do anything. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)tells us, "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
May God bless you as you continue to pray for our beloved nation, your loved ones, your family, your church, your business, and for the second coming of the Lord. We cannot wait!
Remember: Jesus is an intercessor and He is praying on our behalf at the moment.
