Why we must master the discipline of prayer and intercession :
Every believer must master the discipline of prayer and intercession because without it , we will remain ineffective in our walk and work as believers . It is the foundation for our Christian life . There can never be true freedom and victory in our lives without prayer . All want of success and failure in our spiritual life and in Christian work is due to defective or insuffcient prayer . Our spiritual life , growth and success depend upon prayer . It ' s the key that unlocks God ' s treasure house of His infinite mercy , grace and power . All that God is and all that God has , is at the disposal of prayer , notes R . A . Torrey
We need to understand that we cannot ignore prayer and be effective in our service . According to Andrew Murray , " Christ meant prayer to be the great power by which His church should do its work . The neglect of prayer therefore , is the main reason the church has no greater power over the masses in Christian and heathen countries ". If this is true , and I believe it is , then it simply means that we work and toil without involving God and this is disastrous for us . There is nothing the devil dreads so much as prayer , says Albert Richardson . His great concern is to keep us from praying . He loves to see us " up to our eyes " in work , provided we
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do not pray . He does not fear that we are eager and earnest Bible students , provided we are little in prayer .
Someone has wisely said , " Satan laughs at our toiling , mocks at our wisdom , but trembles when we pray ." All this is so familiar to us , but do we really pray ? If not , then failure will dog our footsteps , whatever signs of apparent success there may be . Let us never forget that the greatest thing we can do for God or for man is to pray , for we can accomplish far more by our prayers than by our work . Prayer is omnipotent ; it can do anything that God can do . When we pray , God works . All fruitfulness in service is the outcome of the workers prayers or of those who are holding up holy hands on their behalf " ( The Kneeling Christian – Unknown Christian )
Your greatest responsibility as a representative of Christ is to pray and intercede for others . Preaching the gospel or serving in your ambassadorial position is not enough . Prayer and intercession must be your priority .
If my people , who are called by my name , will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven , and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14