Acts 4:31
The story is told of five young ministerial students who were spending a Sunday in London, so they went to hear Charles Spurgeon preach. While waiting for the doors to open, they were greeted by a man who said, “Gentlemen, let me show you around. Would you like to see the boiler room of this church?” They were not particularly interested, but they didn’t want to offend the stranger, so they consented. The young men were taken down a stairway, a door was quietly opened, and their guide whispered, “This is our boiler room.” Much to their surprise, the young men saw 700 people bowed in prayer, seeking a blessing on the service that was soon to begin in the massive auditorium above. As he closed the door, the gentleman then introduced himself—it was Spurgeon himself.
American culture is probably the hardest place on earth to learn how to pray. We are so busy that when we slow down to pray, we find it awkward and uncomfortable. We place a high value on productivity. We’ve got to be doing something. We prize accomplishments. But prayer is talking to a God who remains unseen. It feels like we are wasting time, spinning our wheels without ever getting anywhere. Yet prayer is the only way to advance the mission of the church.
I think that we easily lose sight of just how desperate our situation is. Without God, we cannot succeed. Remember today that prayer is the means by which faith is exercised and power is supplied.
For more, read Acts 4:23-31; James 5:13-18
