“No Man is Greater Than His Prayer Life” – Leonard Ravenhill
Men, why don’t we pray?
Let’s be honest, we do pray, but not with the urgency, desire, and intentionality that is required and expected of us. Why not?
I was listening to a podcast this past week from Mark Driscoll called “Pray like Men” – here is a link if you’d like to listen (it’s well worth it): https://soundcloud.com/mdm-office-staff/real-men-pray-like-men
Anyway, in this podcast Mark gives two reasons why we struggle with prayer:
1. Prayer involves emotion
2. Prayer involves communication
As men, we struggle in those two areas typically. We don’t like to show emotion, and sitting down and sharing our deepest darkest most intimate feelings just doesn’t sound like something we jump at the chance to do. If we liked emotion and communication we’d be sitting with our wives watching Hallmark and then talking about it after. We don’t do that!
But…guys, we have to (pray, not the Hallmark thing). We have to pray. We have too much at stake and we have been given too much to steward to not make this a priority, to take it seriously, and to be intentional with it.
Psalm 145:18 – The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
God seems distant. How’s your prayer life?
As men, we need God near to help us protect, provide and lead the people and things that God has given us specifically to steward.
This isn’t a post to make us feel guilty (myself included) about the lack of prayer life, but to help us increase it.
Here are some action steps you can do right now to immediately increase your prayer life:
1. Listen to the podcast above. Take notes, apply.
2. Download “Echo Prayer” on your phone – it’s an app that you put your prayer requests in – enter the people/things God has given you to care for and lead/steward and pray for them daily.
3. Write down your “God-given assignments” and prioritize them. What are “God-given assignments? People God has called you to lead/care and provide for. People God has called you to share the Gospel with and possibly mentor. A ministry or calling he has you in (or asking you to be involved in).
a. Examples: Spouse, kids, friends, co-workers, your church, ministry to start/lead/be a part of.
Take some time to know what God is calling you to then intentionally, every day, with passion, step into the gap and fight for those things.
When I say fight, there is action involved, but the most fruitful battle position is on your knees.
We started with a quote from Ravenhill, and let’s end with one as well…
“Prayer is not a preparation for the battle; it is the battle!”
The things that God has given you to care for, lead, and steward – are they worth the fight?
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