Prayer - the Neglected Conversation

24 Hour Prayer

24 hour prayer is not a new phenomenon. It has been around for centuries if not millennia. However, there has been a trend, since probably the early 90’s, towards specific dedicated 24 hour prayer. “Prayer Towers”, as they are often called, have sprouted. There are a few in the UK and Europe, a few in America, and quite a few more in Asia. All were established as 24 hour manned prayer rooms where everything from revival, to world events, to Auntie Nora’s cat could be covered in prayer in a steady and continuous flow of prayer offered to the Lord, to rise “as an incense before the throne of God.”

Why on earth did the church think it necessary to pray 24 hours a day. Most people don’t pray for one hour a day let alone 24. The short answer can be taken straight from scripture. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

(NKJV) “Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Almost enough said but not quite. Almost every Christian acknowledges that we are in the end times at one stage r another. It would seem prudent, therefore, to heed Jesus’ words Matthew 24:43 “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.” Also Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” We are watchmen and 24 hour prayer rooms are the walls from where we watch and stand guard.

So, at whom do we think these scriptures are aimed? May I suggest it is anyone involved in the Great Commission – and that means all of us. The question of ‘who’ can also relate not just to those who are to pray, but also to those for whom we pray. That is as wide as saying every person in the world, or anyone, or the one person in front of us today.

When do we pray without ceasing, on 24 hour watch? This seems to be a foolish question given the subject matter. To say “24/7” is also just too glib an answer. We do not need a specially set aside room in which to pray. We can pray at any time and anywhere. History shows us the places that have been used for prayer from the scaffold, to the gas chambers, to the slave fields.  After all Psalm 139:7-10 says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths,[a] you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Then, Romans 8:38-39 says it all – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  We can pray in teams, or as individuals – it doesn’t matter just so long as we pray.

Where can we pray? Anywhere !  In Church, at home, out & about walking around the street or supermarket. We can pray just about anywhere – if not out loud then at least silently. A prayer tower is not the only place we can pray. It is a dedicated room or building where we can pray in a private setting but it is only one of any place you care to name that you can pray. Jesus didn’t care who was listening when He prayed. The disciples didn’t care who was listening when they prayed. Why should we care if anyone is listening. Our prayer witness may be what they need to hear in order to bring them to salvation.

What should we pray? Should we be specific or just pray generally? Should we use our heavenly prayer language or stick to our mother tongue? “Yes” is the answer to any question of “what?” and we can add that sometimes it is best to pray “as the Lord  leads”.

Prayer is the most neglected of Christian ‘duties’ – unless it is of the me me me variety of course. Maybe it’s time for all of us to give it more attention than in the past.