God's House - A House of Prayer
Week after week we gather at our places of worship. These places are dedicated to the service and worship of God and go by the name “Church of God.” This name already indicates that the church is God’s possession, but I’ve often wondered if we are always certain of what God expects of us when we gather in His house. It says in Isaiah 56:7, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Let us be completely honest for a moment and ask ourselves, “Is there as much prayer happening in our places of worship as God expects? Is enough prayer happening there so that people truly can call our church a place of prayer? Is earnest and fervent prayer cultivated there? Have we acknowledged that prayer is of utmost importance if we expect God to work and sinners to be saved?” These thoughts really concerned me, and I felt the need to make it my earnest prayer that all our places of worship might be and remain true houses of prayer.
For months, the desire and yearning of my heart was for more spiritual victories, for a deeper inner walk with God, and evidence of deeper spiritual lives among the people of God. I myself went through numerous difficult struggles, and it often seemed that defeat was closer than victory. But after I submitted completely to God and the commands of His words, I learned to use the weapon of prayer against all enemies of the soul and God's Kingdom. I persevered in prayer until complete victory was achieved. We started to cultivate prayer more in our church, and every evening, righteous souls gathered to spend an hour in earnest prayer, and the results were soon noticeable. We have already celebrated many glorious victories in the church. Spiritual life has deepened, and all who persevered in prayer could testify that they had been blessed more than any others that might have been blessed through them.
Many children of God have not prayed enough to receive much spiritual benefit from it. A man admitted to only praying a little, and actually only enough to ease his conscience, and often not even that much. And many others had to admit that they no longer viewed prayer as a wonderful privilege or cultivated it with joy, rather confessed to praying a little here and there as one would add salt to a meal: here a little and there a little until the taste is acceptable. Others admitted to only praying out loud as little as absolutely necessary. That they went to church empty and went home the same way. And many were also guilty of trying to feed the souls of others before filling their own bread basket in the pantry of prayer first.
I fear that this is a true and faithful picture of the situation in many places, if we look at things the way God sees them. I also believe that nothing is more important in our local churches than properly cultivating prayer and correctly acknowledging the worth of prayer.
Many people have confessed to me that although they lead a pure life, they did not know how to pray correctly. One man came forward at an altar call and said that he felt that he needed something, perhaps the experience of sanctification. I asked how his prayer life was, if he knew of the joy of persevering prayer, of prayer until victory. He answered that he had no idea what that meant. He prayed certainly, but found no special joy in it. It was more of a habit or a duty to fulfill. I believe this man expressed what many other good people are lacking. They want to serve God, but the hard crust of their heart has not yet been broken by persevering prayer so that the rays of divine sunshine can fall into their hearts while they spend time with God. Only when this is the case can we truly enjoy prayer, and that is when spending time before God’s face becomes so sweet and glorious.
O children of God, fall to your knees! Away with all formalities, and let us step before God with longing and righteous hearts. Let your heart and lips speak the same language. Do not tell God how fervently you love Him if that is not the case. Remember that God knows your heart very well and knows what is inside. Do not tell God what a great burden you have for other souls when you have a spiritual heart defect that, spiritually speaking, almost kills you yourself. Do not tell God how much you love His people when you have many complaints about them. God does not want any “pious liars,” but He takes joy in those who come near to Him with righteous hearts and open their hearts. Let us pray in fervency and truth!
E.M. Powell
