11^th October 2012

Prayer is dynamic! Genesis to Revelation, great pray-ers: Abraham, Moses, Elijah etc. Study Jesus' teaching; the church in Acts; and N.T. Letters. He is our God too!
P Prayer is a Privilege (TiS Hymn 590). Do we use it? As God's children in Christ Gal 3:26; John 1:1-3) we have amazing resources of prayer-privilege, individually (Matt 6:6) and corporately (Acts 1:14 & 12:5). ‘Lord, teach us to pray' (Luke 11:1).
R Prayer is a Revealing of ourselves to ourselves. What we are before God in prayer, that we are! ‘Be still, and know that He is God' (Psalm 46:10) and who we are. Compare Psalm 139:1-4 and 23-24. It states first God's full knowledge of us, and finally a prayer for Him to search us deeply. Be penitent and expectant.
A Prayer is for Attacking Satan in our daily spiritual warfare (I Peter 5:8-9; Eph 4:27; II Cor 2:11), not using worldly weapons (II Cor 10:3-4) but Christian ones (Eph 6:10-18). Note v.18 ‘all occasions; all prayer; always keep on praying; for all saints' (meaning all  believers).
Y Prayer is a Yielding of ourselves to God. Do we pray to ‘the Lord of the harvest to send out workers' (Matt 9:38)? Are we willing to be one; not to be part of the problem but part of the answer? Not wanting God's will to line up with ours, but yielding our will to His? Be available to God's ability.
E Prayer should lead to Expectation. What do we expect after praying? In Acts 12:5-17, God's answer to prayer was to release Peter - and he was knocking at the door! In II Cor 10:15 ‘Our hope is that as faith grows, activities will greatly expand', so grasp the opportunities! In Acts 4:24-31 after being ‘together in prayer' (v31) as in Acts 1:14 - the place and the people were shaken into holy boldness for witness.
R Prayer is Revolutionary if  we heed the above. ‘Always pray and not give up' (Luke 18:1) and ‘Devote yourselves to prayer' for your own needs, family, friends and ministers (Col 4:2-4; II Thess 3:1). Prayer is the key to a revolutionised church, people whom God can fully trust, absolutely rely on, and wonderfully use (II Thess 1:11-12).
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‘What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer' (MHB 538; TiS 590)
‘Prayer is the Christian's breath, the Christian's native air' (MHB 533)
‘Pour out your souls to God, and bow them with your knees ...
Extend the arms of mighty prayer in grasping all mankind' (MHB 541)

by the Rev Perry Smith (NIV References)