“Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ” [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18]
Let’s face it. Everyone needs a lifeline at some time for some reason. Knowing who and what is our lifeline is important… especially in crisis situations. Have you ever thought of prayer as a lifeline? I think it is… or at least it’s available for us to use. And, as we use it we become more effective as pray-ers. And I also believe that ALL believing prayers are heard and if they are according to the will of God (defined in His Word) then they are always answered in the positive.
Prayer can be effective regardless of the number of people involved in one accord. However……. one of the advantages of seeking and joining in corporate prayer is:
“Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.” [Matthew 18:18-20, AMP]
You do see the impact of being in one accord. And yes, the caveat is ‘within the will of God’. I tend to also think that it is when we add our faith together that we present a strong defense. The context is unquestionably the Father’s will but it is our faith that is the basis on which we act. If we aren’t believing in what we are asking… then why are we asking?
The following are only a few of the countless number of verses about prayer, how to do it, what to do, our mindset about prayer, etc. The scripture that has always been a standard for me is James 5:16; and Matthew 18:20 shows the impact of corporate prayer.
“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].” [Philippians 4:6-7]
“This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us.” [1 John 5:14]
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth (without guile)” [Psalm 145:18]
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” [Hebrews 4:16]
Back to my initial question about prayer being a lifeline… do you ‘use’ prayer as your lifeline? Many times we find ourselves in positions that we don’t know what to do and when there is a believer with us, we can become a mighty force and a lifeline to success (however the word is defined). Remember that you can be a lifeline for someone else as well. The privilege of praying with and for together with someone else is strengthening and edifying whether you are seeking a lifeline or being part of someone else’s lifeline.
