Making Prayer our First Work

In times of spiritual need I read the prophet about prophets. This week visiting with people I’ve been asked about the strategy for this city, about my plans and long term goals for the work of the Gospel. Nothing could depict better my answer than the following quote about the life of Elijah the Prophet: “… he longed for power to bring about a reformation quickly. But God Himself was working out His plan, and all that His servant could do was to pray on in faith and await the time for decided action. (Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, 133).
Step number ONE in my strategy for ministry is to PRAY!!! To pray is to change. Those who crave to see change should pray! Through prayer God transforms us. Those who are unwilling to change will abandon prayer as a significant element in their lives. Prayer produces change, first of all in ourselves. As we come to encounter God our hearts are transformed. The Reformation begins within. The Revival begins in each one of us personally.
Pray and believe that prayers can and do make an objective difference. It is only Stoics and followers of Greek pagan philosophies that believe in a closed and unchanging universe. Bible introduces us to God whose will responds to our prayers. Our future is in hands of God and ours. Our future depends on our relationship with God.
Many a believing Christians eagerly wait for revival in their lives. We have been promised that a revival of true original Godliness, such as never before will visit God’s church before the time of the end. Often we are not sure as to what efforts we must put forth to earn it.
On March 22, 1887 Ellen White penned these words for an article in the Review & Herald: “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow his blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our Heavenly Father is more willing to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us his blessing. A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer.”
It is my plea with each one of you, my dear church family: MAKE PRAYER YOUR FIRST WORK. Speak to God constantly and listen to His Voice in your life.