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First Of All, Prayer

By James L. Kilgore

This article appeared in the Texas Sentinel, July 2002 issue. Texas Sentinel is the official publication of the Texas District of the UPCI. The Editor at the time was Rodney Shaw.

Used by permission.

Philippians 4:6 says ,"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God."

In other words, "Do not fret or be anxious about anything." A consistent prayer life enables us to live an overcoming life, free from the shadow of worry and the anxiety under which so many live today. Everyone should have a prayer time and, if possible, a special place of prayer.

A consistent prayer life enables us to enter the arena where evil forces dwell and come out victorious. As we communicate with God, we develop a relationship that allows us to enter into sacred, holy places, as we ascend to a dimension in God that we've never experienced before.

Prayer is God's chosen method for many endeavors in our lives:

1. Defeating the devil (Luke 22:32; I Peter 4:7)
2. Saving the lost (Luke 18:13)
3. Restoring the backslider (James 5:16, 19-20)
4. Strengthening the saint (Matthew 26:41; Jude 20)
5. Sending out laborers (Matthew 9:38; Acts 13:2-3)
6. Glorifying the name of Jesus (Isaiah 43:21-22; 64:6-7; Revelation 5:8; 8:1-4)
7. Imparting wisdom (James 1:5)
8. Keeping one from sin (Matthew 26:41)
9. Revealing the will of God (Luke 11:9-10) And the list goes on!

Prayer will do more for you in 2002! It is time for our district to rise up and declare war on worldly influences, our flesh, and the devil. How? First of all, through prayer. If we want to be in the perfect will of God, we must make prayer our top priority. Let's do it together—and do it now! Of course, there are some hindrances to prayer:

1. Sin (Psalm 66:18)
2. Insincerity (Matthew 6:15)
3. Carnal motives (James 4:3)
4. Unbelief (James 1:6)
5. Domestic problems (I Peter 3:7)
6. Pride (Luke 18:10-14)
7. Robbing God (Malachi 3:8-10)
8. Refusing to help those in need (Proverbs 21:13; I John 3:16)
9. Refusing to submit to biblical teaching (Proverbs 1:24-31)
10. Refusing to forgive (Matthew 4:23-24)

Let us rid our hearts and lives of any hindrance to prayer and make a new commitment to a time of prayer each day! We can have a district-wide revival in every heart, every home, and every town and city, if we will get our minds off of ourselves and put God first.

The key to revival is clear: "First of all, prayer!"