This insight is part of a series that questions the value and importance of a Quiet Time, Christian Worship, and Christian Service. Also Christian Mission and Holy Communion. However, in this Insight I feel it is vital to look at the role of Persistent Prayer which lies at the heart of all we seek to be and do.
I started this Insight on the 1st September 2025 and, through my quiet time, it became apparent that the forthcoming week was a Global Week of Prayer. It was to unite all Christians worldwide to proclaim our love and loyalty to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To pray for salvation, peace, healing and provisions for all.
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Jesus and Prayer
In this Insight I want to consider the prayer life of Jesus. To share personally why I value prayer and its importance in my daily devotions and for my work and ministry. Through prayer I seek to represent the love and healing of the Lord to all I meet and am asked to pray for.
There are many times in the New Testament where Jesus is recorded as taking time aside to pray. He prayed for personal strength, healings for the sick and restoring life to those who had died. He prayed for miracles of provision and protection for people. He prayed for his disciples and the establishment and development of the church worldwide and spoke about the Holy Spirit which would represent him following his earthly absence.
On the 2nd September 2025, in my daily devotional, I was encouraged by Selwyn Hughes in his notes Every Day with Jesus, to think about the possibility that, if my prayer life was neglected and wasn’t developed, I would lack spiritual strength to live a vibrant and spirit-filled life.
Prayer and Power
Selwyn shared a number of references about Jesus and his teaching concerning the importance of personal and corporate prayer. In Luke 18: 1 – 8, Jesus “told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up”. As Christians, we know the value and place of prayer but so often the legitimate activities of life take first priority and, in neglecting prayer, we miss out on developing a personal intimacy with God and the Lord’s encouragement upon us.
Selwyn stated: “that if prayer fades, power fades”. When we pray we are like a light bulb radiating light and warmth. When we don’t pray it’s like the light bulb not radiating light and warmth. “No light and no power”. Prayer is also like a clock which is continuous and important and, as he says: “even a clock puts its hands together twice a day” – and so should we at least!
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The Apostle Paul in Romans 15: 30 says: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit, to join in my struggle by praying for me”. In Colossians 4: 12 we read of Epaphras “always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. If Jesus took time to teach his disciples how to pray as found in the very well-known Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9 – 13) then it is important for us to learn how to pray and continue in it.
Ask, Seek and Knock
One of the great reasons why I have felt the importance of prayer is that Jesus, in Matthew 7: 7- 11, instructs us to Ask, Seek and Knock. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who seeks will find. Everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. So if we do not ask, seek and knock we will not know how the Lord answers prayer in many and varied ways.
The one proviso with the asking, seeking and knocking is the fact that not everything we desire will come to pass in our own way. The outcome for all prayers is that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. That will require patient faith, increased trust and a wonderful sense of anticipation of prayers being answered in God’s perfect timing and what may be best for us and those we pray for.
Personal and Pastoral Prayer
In my personal journey of faith I have been prayed for since I was born by my family, church family and in particular when I gave my life to Christ at the age of 13. I was later prayed over to receive an infilling of the Holy Spirit in my late teens which transformed my Christian life. So I have received prayer and seen its benefits and outcomes. Consequently, I have endeavoured to put that into practice in my own prayer life.
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There have been many times of crisis and the need for guidance and strength. I have sought to discern God’s will, healing, protection and, above all, His powerful presence to make a difference in my life. In my work as a Christian Minister for over forty years, prayer has been like that light bulb. When switched on I feel empowered, lightened and warm. If I neglect prayer for myself and those I have a responsibility and love for then, just like Samson, I will lose power and experience those ‘pillars of life’ falling upon and around me.
In the churches I have served in, I have been involved in organizing days of prayer and personal prayers for healing. Set and informal prayers in worship, Holy Communion and teaching services. I have spoken compassionate prayers, which is like a gift of medicine and comfort, which have been shared with individuals, in homes and hospital visits.
There are prayers for individuals to commit their lives to Christ. Prayers at a Baptism, Holy Communion and those special prayers of Commendation and Committal at a loved ones Funeral. I have prayed with those who have been homeless, in relationship crisis, chained by addictions and many experiencing deep loss as well as those experiencing wonderful joy and blessings.
I have known the Lord to answer very decisively my prayers. There are many times when I have had to wait years and to observe how the Lord answers in ways we do not expect and can seem very mysterious. In private and public prayer I have always wanted to maintain that sense of God’s continual presence that makes all the difference to any life situations I have faced.
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Take Away
In times of Holy Communion, that includes prayer and reflection, we can ensure that we are right with the Lord and know his continual forgiveness and presence. That frees us up to maintain our Quiet Times, Christian Worship, Service and Mission. In 2022 I completed a mini-series about prayer and you might find them helpful for further reading and reflection.
- “In the modern age of social media everything can seem to be in an ethereal world rather than a person to person setting. A relational prayer life is one in which we speak with a God that we cannot see but one in whom we can know his personal presence and guidance”. Prayer is Relational
- “When we think about prayer in ordinary and extraordinary life situations it can be described as a place where the ‘rubber hits the road. We think we know what we require and where we want to go but certain experiences may take us in an opposite direction and cause confusion and doubt. We pray for guidance, provision and a sense of God’s personal presence”. Prayer is Situational
- “It can be difficult to enter into prayer with a spirit of thanksgiving and acceptance when we harbour a spirit of non-acceptance and not much thanksgiving for the daily realities we find ourselves in. The challenge for each one of us is to equally have a spirit of acceptance and non-acceptance alongside expressing our complaints with thanksgiving”. Prayer with Thanksgiving
Graham
Selah: (Pause to think calmly on what has just been read) and check out A Time to Worship with Motivational Moments
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