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By Mervyn Morelock, Lt. Colonel
When God calls us to pray, he really means it. To pray is the most commonly mentioned command in Scripture. It is mentioned more than “love your neighbor,” more than “go to church,” and more than “evangelize.” More than anything else, God calls us to pray.
We are meant to know God in a real and personal way, speaking to him, hearing from him, experiencing his love.
But just as we cannot know another person without spending time with him or her, so we cannot know God personally apart from choosing to spend time with him. This isn’t a privilege for a chosen few, but for everyone who is a child of God.
In one of his most revealing teachings, Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me” (John 10:14 CEB).
During the last hours of his earthly ministry, when he prayed for his disciples who were with him and for those who would follow them through the generations, Jesus said:“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3 NIV).
Do you “know” Jesus?
In both verses, Jesus used a word for “know,” which means knowing through experience rather than factual knowledge. We’re to know God, experiencing him through a continuing personal relationship that becomes real and intimate. From the moment of salvation, we can “know” God in a personal way.
When we “know” God in a personal way, we need to begin to share that experience with others.
How to share that experience with others is contained in the book, “Army On Its Knees,” by Janet Munn and Stephen Court (available at Tradewest and Amazon). It explores the dynamics and power of the great commission of prayer. Its nine chapters cover many of the questions that new believers (and some old ones) ask about prayer power.
I highly recommend this book as a must read for every Salvationist; it is packed with insight and guidance for having an intimate relationship with God through prayer.
Since Jan. 1, 2011, Salvation Army territories, commands and regions around the world have been praying 24/7 as part of the Global Call to 24/7 Prayer: a Day and Night Call for Justice. The call comes from the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:7-8, where Jesus said: “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?…I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”
Hundreds of non-stop prayer rooms have housed extravagant prayer since 2011. The purpose of the global call is to motivate and focus attention on prayer throughout The Salvation Army’s international family, with a united purpose in intercession.
A renewal of prayer is happening in our day. We in the Western Territory are called to be part of it. Your corps is called to be part of it. Every Salvationist is being challenged to a greater commitment to prayer.
Prayer does change things! It will change us, our corps and institutions, our communities, our nation, the world.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).
To request prayer and view other prayer requests and praise reports visit saprayusw.com.