prayer.

I've never been good at praying. But I really want to be.

I have been reading the minor prophets lately. When going through those stories and prophecies, it becomes obvious how powerful prayer is.

In Jonah, the evil people of Ninevah, after they had heard the LORD's judgment that they would be overthrown, dropped everything, fasted, put on sackcloth, and prayed. The king of Ninevah said, "But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let everyone turn from is evil ways and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?"

"Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it."

God loves to bless those whose hearts are open to Him.

Joel 2:12 "Now, therefore," says the LORD, 'Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.' So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent...

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babies; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, 'Spare Your people, O LORD...'

"The LORD will answer and say to His people, 'Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations...'"

God is truly gracious to hear our prayers. To give us even a chance to turn from our wickedness is not what we deserve. There are so many stories in God's word of God giving evil people time to repent and to pray before judgment. Ultimately, this is the reality of the time in which we now live...the time between Jesus' sacrifice for all people and the final judgment for all people. Forgiveness coming to those who choose to trust the sufficiency of His righteousness to cover our sin.

Prayer is as important now as it was in the time of Jonah or the time of Joel. God hears prayer, and He is gracious and compassionate. He answers us and blesses us when our hearts are open to Him and are obedient to His instruction.

Christians must pray. We need to carry the sick to Jesus through our prayers. We need to speak truth and light into this dark world through our prayers. Satan is defeated when we pray. And God is glorified when we pray. God is exalted, God is honored, God is pleased, and God is given the throne in our hearts when we humble ourselves and admit that He alone is Almighty God. He alone is able to work His righteousness in evil hearts. He alone is good. And we need Him to move in our lives. We need Him if we are ever going to be effective witnesses to the Gospel.

Brothers and sisters, let us pray.