Have you ever got to a login page and suddenly realised you have no idea what your password is?! I have…many times.
Passwords are great things, they get you into places that would otherwise be out of bounds. They can be spoken or written down. They can be long and complicated or short and to the point. I often get told when making new accounts my password isn’t strong enough-its too weak and easy for someone to guess, making my account vulnerable.
Prayer can be a little bit like a password…it gets you into conversation with God. You can make it as long and complicated as you like or keep it short and simple. Thankfully God will NEVER tell you that your prayer is too weak and you need to try again. He will never reject your prayers. He will always listen, always have time, always answer (although it may not be how you expect!!). Prayer doesn’t need to be limited to a ‘login’ page like a church service or a house group meeting either. We can pray whenever we want. Walking down the road, doing the washing up, mowing the lawn, driving the car…all of these things can be done prayerfully.
If we don’t use our passwords regularly we run the risk of forgetting them. This is where the lovely little words often in blue just under the login button come in handy. “Forgotten my password”. If you click on these words you generally get an email explaining how to reset your password. When it comes to prayer we have a ‘forgot my password’ button too…its called the Bible!! If we ever forget how to pray there are many verses we can turn to…here are just a few:
Jeremiah 33:3 says Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Matthew 6 has a whole section of Jesus’ teaching on prayer, some of it giving words for our prayers and some giving practical advice. Verses 6 and 7 say But when you pray, go to your room, close the door and pray to your father, ho is unseen. Then your father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray don’t be like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
So, if prayer is like a password which grants you open access to God, and we have the assurance that no prayer is too weak or short, and if we forget how to pray we can be reminded so easily by the Bible…what is your excuse? Why don’t you pray continually like we are told to in 1 Thessalonians 5:17?
What if the armies of the Lord
© 2003 Casting Crowns, Primary Wave Brian/My Refuge Music/Sparrow Song/Be Essential Songs.
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let Satan have one more
What if the church, for heaven’s sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God’s promise
And stormed hell’s rusty gates
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face
And turn from their own way
And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of day
What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do
He said that they would hear
His promise has been made
He’ll answer loud and clear
If only we would pray
If My people called by My name
If they’ll humble themselves and pray
If My people called by My name
If they’ll humble themselves and pray
Rachel is the Inspire prayer coordinator and she would love to hear from you. Whether you struggle to pray or you overflow in prayer she’d love to be in touch with you.
