It is the Humble Who Prays!

Have you realized that the difference between the humble and the proud could be prayer? The proud never saw the need for prayer. They are unhappy when they see us pray. Prayer postures are always humble postures - kneeling, postrating, clasping of hands, bowing of heads, etc. Sometime, we weep and cry as babies in our prayers. We may approach the Throne of Grace with boldness. That does not mean we are proud. When our prayers are answered we are humble enough to remember to thank God for answered prayers. When our prayers are not answered, we are humble enough to continue with our prayers to the One who we believe can and will answer our prayers. If Jesus Christ was humble enough to pray (Hebrews 5:7), why should people tell us not to pray, or choose where we should pray. Prayer is the greatest of all graces. Once upon a time in Babylon, a king decree was issued, banning prayer. Daniel prayed in violation of the king's decree and was thrown into the den of lions. But God delivered Daniel. The lions did not harm or hurt him, (Daniel 6). Prayer is the ultimate and supreme weapon of spiritual warfare. After listing the weapons spiritual warfare as truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the spirit, Apostle Paul said we should pray and watch "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplications for all saints ... " Ephesians 6:18.

I always wondered which was more important and precious to Apostle Paul: preaching, testifying, teaching, writing epistles, or praying. Every now and again Paul wrote about his prayer life, his prayer attitude, his prayer aptitude, and his prayer altitude. I was marveled how Paul described his prayer life. For example in 2 Timothy 1:3 Paul wrote

"I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee (Timothy) in my prayers night and day."

In Ephesians 3:14 Paul wrote "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ...

In every of these cases, Paul was praying for two major reasons (1) that believers would not violently defend or oppose the tribulations of Paul or despondently reject the tribulations of Paul which in both cases could result in their missing the purpose of his tribulation, which (2) is to glorify God.

What then is the reason for prayer? Is it for self-pity, so that I can draw attention of people to my personal needs, or is it to strengthen the faith of others, so that even in my tribulations, God can be glorified! No doubt, I am afraid of tribulations, that is why, like Jesus, I pray to God who can avert tribulations (Hebrews 5:7), not necessarily only for me, but for my family, my friends, my church, my community, my nation, and even for humanity and the world.

Why then is the intensity of Paul's prayers? NIGHT AND DAY! In the prison or outside the prison. Every breath of Paul must have been prayer. LORD, how I wish I could pray like Paul!