Faithful in Prayer

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Romans 12:12

“Don’t pray when you feel like it.  Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.  A man is powerful on his knees.” – Corrie ten Boom

Cornelia “Corrie” ten Boom’s life (April 15, 1892-April 15, 1983) is a beautiful and powerful display of the Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:12. Having been arrested by the Gestapo for helping Jewish men, women and children escape the Nazi genocide during World War II, Corrie ended up in Ravensbruck – a German concentration camp. She and many others were victimized and forced into hard labor. The injustice she suffered there was unspeakable, yet she testified years later how she learned that God’s love is deeper than any pit of evil or suffering we can face.

Of the 130,000 prisoners that passed through Ravensbruck, Corrie was one of only 40,000 who survived the camp and was released. She spent her post-prison life preaching about God’s love. In 1947, one of the former prison guards approached her and asked for her forgiveness. Corrie recognized the man, remembering that he was one of the more cruel guards who had committed horrible acts of cruelty against Corrie and her sister. Corrie testifies that by the power and love of God, she took the man’s hand and said, “I forgive you everything.” There is no doubt that Corrie ten Boom was, “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”

Do you think it is possible to bear the fruit of faithfulness without a vibrant, healthy prayer life? Although few of us will face the suffering and hardships that Corrie ten Boom did, is prayer any less important in our lives? I would say absolutely not. Prayer is like oxygen for a Christian - we shouldn't be able to go a day without it. 

Is this how you view prayer? Or do you pray only when you need something, when you feel like it, or when you have the time? Faithfulness in prayer means praying regularly and often. Our prayers should be saturated with praise and thanksgiving to the Father.  It is a time to commune with Him by both talking and listening. There is no quicker way to experience a heart change than through prayer.

Begin today by setting aside time daily to spend in faithfulness to God through prayer.

Dear God, thank You for the privilege of prayer. Please help me to be faithful in my prayer life. May my prayers be full of faith and in accordance with Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.