Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Christian Worker’s Prayer Life


I WAS ONCE INVITED by a publisher to write a book on Prayer. You can be quite sure that I would never have volunteered myself for such an assignment. As I put in my introduction, ‘How hypocritical one feels in making the attempt!’ Anyone who writes or speaks about this most vital of all Christian activities will essentially need to be addressing oneself ahead of anybody else. Otherwise it would not be possible to face the Lord with integrity.

And then prayer as it relates to the Christian worker; how does this differ from prayer in general? In one sense, not at all. Prayer is God’s appointed means by which his work is done in our world. In co-operation with him, we pray; he works! He works in our own lives and in people and situations outside of ourselves. The newest believer can be involved from Day One.

But it is, perhaps, the full appreciation of this point that transforms a Christian beginner into an active worker. The simple action of turning up at the church prayer meeting is enough to demonstrate that we mean business with God; that we expect things to happen! As you take your seat there, say to yourself, ‘Just by being here, I am a Christian worker.’

We sometimes talk about ‘praying for the work.’ The reality is that prayer IS the work. It is the most important thing that we can ever do for the kingdom of God.

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2 comments:

gill taylor said...

as a full time christian youth worker, what would people suggest as a reasonable weekly commitment to prayer as part of work time?

Robin G. Jordan said...

Gill,

Since I do not know what is involved in your ministry, it is difficult to offer suggestions. For any minister who spends time in the Word every day, I would recommend that he also spend a part of that time in prayer. I would also recommend that he "practice the presence of God," conversing with God throughout the day.