Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 12:
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
FATHER has provided us with a list of actions that promote HIS Kingdom on a daily basis in the above passage. When we have not been given a specific task to do by FATHER then we should focus on the priorities listed above. Each action is based on Agape Love and will produce good fruit in people’s lives.
One of the actions on the list is to continue steadfastly in prayer. Our communication with FATHER concerning the needs of others should never be a low priority and every one of us has the capacity to do this on a daily basis. As we pray the Spiritual is affected and then the physical responds. In James chapter 5 we are instructed “the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up” and “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”. James then gives us an excellent example of prayer:
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
FATHER responded and answered Elijah’s prayer in a very specific manner. Through prayer FATHER confirmed Elijah’s mission and outcome. We must not understate the importance of prayer on a daily basis. I cherish the prayers going forth on my behalf by others and am grateful for the willingness of others to include me in their daily prayers. I know FATHER will bless them for their diligence in “standing in the gap”. Agape Love is found among those who consistently pray and lift up others to FATHER. Our daily communion and communication with FATHER is most important to our maturing process.
Jesus clearly stated the importance of prayer in Matthew chapter 21:
12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Is your house a “house of prayer”? Jesus spoke to the intent of the temple in that it is meant to be a place where we communicate with FATHER and that any other use is unacceptable. Now that our bodies are the “temple”, we should consider ourselves as a “house of prayer”. We should not be reluctant to carry on a conversation with FATHER throughout the day as the need or opportunity arises. The Holy Spirit is within us and has taken up residence in us so let us accept this Truth and commune with FATHER throughout the day as we seek to further the Kingdom. With this level of communication available to us, then the other actions on the list above will be addressed according to FATHER’S perfect plan and purpose.
Prayer does not have to be “activity” or petition-based but should also include genuine words of adoration and gratitude for FATHER. OUR CREATOR is the ONE WHO deserves our utmost attention on a daily basis and there is no one in the world who could compare to HIM. Let our daily conduct reflect the list above and we will be blessed in all that we set our hand to do.