“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the LORD is His name, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” – Jeremiah 33:2-3
God speaks to us through the prophet about prayer. Why do we emphasize prayer in the church? Because the church is at the center of God’s plan for the world. The church has the important task of helping to build God’s kingdom and bring salvation. However, the church will only be strong in its task if God’s power and grace are unleashed within the church. And that power is unleashed only through prayer. And the church, my friends, is you and me.
What an invitation and a promise that God gives through the prophet Jeremiah, to those who call upon Him. Throughout history, God has been answering prayer and showing men and women things we do not know. Ordinary people like you and me are made extraordinary through our belief in prayer.
Job prayed for his friends, and they were helped; then he himself was healed. Moses prayed, and God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. Hannah prayed, and God gave her a son who became a high priest in Israel. David prayed, and God delivered him from his enemies. He prayed again, and God forgave him his sins of murder and adultery. Samson prayed, and God gave him enough strength to kill a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. Elijah prayed, and God restored a young man’s life. Elijah prayed again, and it didn’t rain in Israel for three years. Elijah prayed again, and it rained.
Hezekiah prayed, and one of God’s angels killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night who were bent on destroying Israel. Ezra prayed, and Judah and Jerusalem had a revival. Nehemiah prayed, and the king released him, allowing him to go back to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Solomon prayed and received wisdom. Daniel prayed and was freed from the lions’ den. Daniel prayed again and interpreted a powerful king’s dream. Paul and Silas prayed and were set free from jail.
Andrew Murray adds this about prayer, “The powers of the eternal world have been placed at prayer’s disposal. It is the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life. It is on prayer that the promises of God wait for their fulfillment, the Kingdom for its coming, and the glory of God for its full revelation.”
How about you? How many times have you prayed and God has answered and shown you things you did not know. Or maybe you don’t pray very much. I’m here to tell you that He is a God who answers prayer. So let me encourage you to make it a regular practice each and every day. Maranatha!
