We Better Pray!

One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. [Luke 1.8-10] 

The question begs to be asked, "why was a great crowd outside praying?"

While we don't know much about this particular time, we do know people, in great numbers, were outside the Temple praying. As with every Bible story, significant events are typical resultant to people praying.

Prayer and expectancy go hand in hand.

I have recently reviewed stories of revivals of the 19th and 20th centuries. Those revivals were born of prayer. People were praying. Why?

Why pray? Because no life-altering work of God was ever birthed except on the knees of prayer.

No action of man has ever produced such results as the action of prayer. Prayer prepares the way for man to experience God.

So, does prayer move God or does prayer move man?

Interestingly enough, Jesus said that prayer moves mountains. In fact, He said as much two different times in Matthew's Gospel:

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” [Matthew 17.20]

Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. [Matthew 21.21]

I suppose we could enter great depth of discussion as to whether prayer then moves God, man, or mountains (or all three), but therein lies the religion that crucified Jesus. Should it not satisfy us that if we would just pray, great things would happen? We busy ourselves studying and analyzing the box while the gift inside it lies unused.

The USA (and possibly the entire world) is at a unique time as I write this. There is much astir following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Churches are reporting record attendance. There is an expectancy in the air... May I suggest that what we do with this expectancy is critical?

We better pray! God will do what God will do, but we better pray! Whether Jesus returns, a revival takes place, or mountains are moved, we better pray!

Father, help us to get to the work of prayer! So be it!