Stanley Kirk Burrell, also known as MC Hammer, hit the top of the charts with a cd titled “U Can’t Touch This” in 1990. MC Hammer earned an estimated $30 million dollars in 1990 from songs that quickly ascended to the top of the pop music charts. On this cd Hammer included a song titled “Pray.” An interesting fact about MC Hammer was that he always recorded at least one song on his album that was dedicated to the Lord.
Hammer writes, “Pray. We got to pray. We got to pray just to make it to pray.” The song continues with Hammer reflecting on the importance of prayer. Rather profound for a pop song that did so well on the charts.
Not surprising that we also receive these instructions from the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul writes, “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to be “faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12) and whatever circumstances you are in “pray” (Philippians 4:6). I am not saying that MC Hammer and the Apostle Paul are in the same league as theologians. I am saying that prayer is important and I would like to be known as a prayerful Christian.
As a matter of fact, there are two things of utmost importance for leaders in the church according to the Scriptures. Do you know what they are?
Grab your Bible and turn to Acts 6:4. Two of the most important things to be doing: prayer and ministry of God’s Word. Stop for a moment and just reflect on this. Prayer and ministry of God’s Word. How much time are you devoting toward these two endeavors? I know that these activities have not been top priorities in my life until now.
Recently, I restructured my daily schedule. As an entrepreneur, I have tremendous flexibility in my day. As I grow in the Lord, I am learning that I exist to serve Him for it is in Him that I live and breathe and have my being. Also, the Bible tells us “to make the most of your time” (Ephesians 5:16). When I look at what God desires and how best to serve Him, it is me and my schedule that needs changing to further conform to His will and His desires. Hopefully, this article will encourage you to do the same.
Prayer and the ministry of God’s Word. Both of these activities have profound implications. Let’s explore a few examples we find in the Bible when we study the Apostle Paul’s prayer life.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 Paul prays for the church at Thessalonica, “We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
In Colossians 4:2 Paul writes, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Ephesians 6:18 states, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
OK, there is a lot in these passages. Let me pull out a few highlights.
First, let’s start with some macro questions. How about, why are we here? You can answer this question from a variety of vantages. Why am I here in this world? Why am I here at work, at home, at school? Why do I exist? Well, the Bible actually answers this question. Once we grasp the significance of the answer, it allows us to understand the importance of prayer.
Consider how the Bible explains the reason for our existence.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and power for ever and ever.” 2 Peter 3:18 says, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever.”
I really believe Romans 8:29 captures the reason for our existence. This passage states, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers.” The reason we are here is to be conformed to the image of Christ. That’s it. That’s the reason we are here, to become Christlike. Bring glory to God the Father by becoming like His Son Jesus. Simple in articulation; incredibly difficult in application.
Let’s get back to prayer. Why pray? Hammer, Paul, and all throughout the Scripture we have this command, pray. Buy why?
The Biblical explanation is that God commands it. I cannot really explain why God does things. My mind is finite and His infinite. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nether are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” As I live and get a bit older, I am learning that I have a way of doing things and God has a way of doing things. The bottom line is God’s way is always much better than my way.
Most of my prayers are selfish. They flow from my sinful desires to please my flesh more than my desire to please God. The Bible even exposes these sinful thoughts in the book of James which says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:2-3).
Let me show you two very clear examples of the Apostle Paul praying. Note what he prays for. Note the one central theme repeated in both prayers. Contrast this with what you pray for and your own central theme when you pray.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).
In Colossians 1:9-10 Paul writes, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”
How similar are your own prayers? Are you asking God for knowledge, depth of insight, and the ability to discern what is best? Do your prayers focus on others to grow in love and their faith? Or are most of your prayers filled with requests for stuff? I am not saying it is wrong to pray for stuff. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches that we should present all our prayers and petitions to God. I have a friend who prays for parking spaces. Another friend lost his mother-in-law’s dog the other day and asked our Bible study group to pray that he would find the dog before Monday when his mother-in-law comes back. Guess what? He found the dog Monday morning in a dog pound over 30 miles away. How a small ten pound dog traveled over 30 miles over a few days is astounding. Even more astonishing is how God answered the prayer and allowed him to find the dog.
Prayer. It’s important. It’s commanded. It’s what God desires us to be doing to further exemplified how intimately involved He is in every area of our life. By growing in the knowledge of God’s Word our prayers will begin to align more and more with how Jesus and the disciples prayed: knowledge, our love to abound more and more, depth of insight, peace that surpasses all understanding, and to know Christ. Paul later writes in Philippians 3:10 that he really wants three things. The first and most important thing Paul desired was to “know Christ”. This is a great prayer to be praying for ourselves and for others.
God’s ways are not our ways. My prayer lately has been that I learn to pray. Prayer and the ministry of God’s Word. Two of the most important things we could be doing.
Hammer got it right. Pray, we need to pray. We need to pray just to make it to pray. The Apostle Paul got it right. We need to pray. We need to pray for knowledge, depth of insight, and the ability to discern what is best. We heed this command by not being merely a hearer of the Word but a doer (James 1:22). Two of the most important activities we could be doing: prayer and the ministry of God’s Word. May the Lord help us grow in these areas as we take our lead from Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and even MC Hammer.