Prayer is the answer. 
Love is the 'gas' that makes it go.

I don't believe prayer moves God so much as it moves those who dare to pray. There, I said it. If we who claim to follow Jesus will follow the directive to "pray without ceasing," we just might experience "the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous availing much." 

But we don't pray, certainly not as often as we should. We might even say to another, "I'll pray for you" but we quickly forget rather than stopping right there and doing so.

So, why don't we pray more? Frankly, I think it goes against the human psyche; it makes no sense to our carnal mind. Why spend time talking to someone we can't see (prayer) when we have a million things to do? Factor in doubt and unbelief and, well, there you have it. 

Many don't pray because they say they've "tried it" and "it didn't work," as if they rubbed an old lamp and the genie wasn't home.

It's been my experience that, far too often, I found myself begging God to do that which Jesus said He has empowered ME to accomplish. In those moments, I feel I've actually heard the Spirit saying to me, "No, YOU do it!"

Where sickness is involved, it's not uncommon to hear well-meaning statements such as, "I'll pray for you." Interestingly, Jesus never directed us to "pray" for anyone's health; He told His followers (that includes you and me) to HEAL the sick. I'm not splitting hairs here! Far too many "believers" don't believe it's remotely possible that they could heal anybody... and they're RIGHT! Divine healing is only possible when God ordains it by His Spirit and where faith is involved on someone's part (case in point, very few were healed by Jesus in His own hometown. He was just Mary's kid, after all. How could HE be the Messiah?). Healing miracles are only difficult when we start thinking they have anything to do with us!

As I mentioned, 'LOVE' is the gas that makes prayer work. Do we love our Father? Do we love our brothers and sisters, ALL of those for whom Jesus died? This is key to advancing God's Kingdom, folks. For many of us, any level of compassion is impossible to muster due to our anger, frustration, and unforgiveness of this one or that one. Don't we realize the most powerful expression of our love for God is to love His children? Think about it... a new family attends a church and the pastor crouches down and plays with their kids. The parents feel loved, accepted and are drawn to the pastor all because of the love, acceptance and affirming nature of the man toward their kids.

Get it?

Though I've actually heard a minister say he didn't attend the prayer meetings because he "didn't have the Gift of Intercession," fact is ALL of us are directed to pray. Standing in the gap and contending for those who are too sick, too weak, too depressed to offer their own prayers is the job for those of us who are strong. When I cut my thumb on my table saw, the rest of my body came to its aid and filled-in until it was able to function again.

Get that?

Are we praying for our nation's President - ALL our governing leaders?

Are we praying for those in leadership from the entertainment industry to the local school district to our coworkers, teammates, spouses, kids, grandkids and great grandkids? 

Are we praying for our enemies, even those who are sworn to kill us for our faith?

Are we praying for our community - the violence, the gangs, the drugs, the sexual immorality, the lack of a desire to "father" the children being created?

Are we praying for our community's houses of worship and that God would reach those affiliated with them despite whatever it is their leaders might be preaching - even the Christian gatherings?

Praying for the needs of others is critical to the success of any Prayer Warrior, however, when we pray for ourselves, what we're REALLY doing is allowing Jesus to be the "lord" - the "owner" - of that burden. The key is to relinquish control of that issue so He can have it and deal with it. Our biggest problem is we keep taking it back before He's had a chance. 

C'mon, folks... let us pray!

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work