Why we pray

If you are to buy a very expensive plant, would you keep it in your room safe and sound from bugs and other things that may kill the plant? Or would you put it outside - where it can get as much sunlight as it can and grow to be the most beautiful plant?

The same analogy applies to how we treat our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If we know that the person is struggling and challanged by a certain sin, do we tell them that God will forgive them - or do we tell them to hang in there and keep on struggling? Or when we "bring" someone to Christ - do we try to keep them as safe and sound as possible from "bugs" and "weeds" that might uproot them or do we encourage them to live out their faith?

I too am guilty of such sin. I remember the numerous of times i tell my friends that it's okay that they're not doing the things that are displeasing to God. I remember the many times i give my friends the easy way out of their problems rather than challenging them to face their problems head on. I am guilty of all of these. 

But you know, lately, i had been forcing myself to pray for all the people that i know everyday. Before i sleep, on the bus, on the train, when i'm not doing anything - I try to pray for them. Why? Simple, because i realise how limited i am. I can't fulfill my duty as a good student and a good student chaplain and a good bs leader and a good youth member and a good friend - all at once. I am simply unable to do it. I don't have the time and energy to be everyone at the same time. The best service i can do for a friend, is to pray for them- pray for their growth and pray for God to give them strength. And you know what! it WORKS!

Today, i was reminded by God that no prayer will ever go in vain. Though you may not see the result, but you know that God is pleased and He listens to your prayer. Pray for everything in anything. Pray for God to give not only yourself but others strength and encouragement. And if you pray - you don't have to worry whether you succeed or fail, because It's God's ministry. He is the one doing all the "dirty" work for us. There is only so much we can do for a friend (in terms of service) but for growth - only God has the power to do it. So pray.

We may not be able to change our friend or tell them the right thing at the right time, but we can always pray for those knowledge to be revealed to them by the Creator. We can always pray that God will challenge them from the inside out. 

Pray when you're angry. Pray when you're sad. Pray when you're weak. Pray when you're strong. Pray when you're happy. Pray for yourself. Pray for your parents. Pray for your sibblings. Pray for your extended family in Christ. Pray for the people you know. Pray for non-Christian. Pray for the people on the bus. Pray for the people on the train. Pray for your enemy. Pray for your friend. Just pray. Eventhough it looks like you're not doing anything "worthy" for the kingdom by just praying, but remember - to begin with - we have nothing that we can give to God anyway - He does not need our good works or our greatness and success. What He wants from us is that we depend on Him and our willing heart to be used by Him - IN HIS OWN WAY. 

Pray and know that He listens